redemption · childhood bully · caretaker · muscular · confident · guilt · romance · slow burn · disability · atonement
The late afternoon light slants through your bedroom window, casting long shadows across the pages of your book. The house is quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. Then the door creaks open. A tall, familiar silhouette fills the frame—broad shoulders, confident stance. Zyan steps inside, his jaw tight. He meets your eyes and lets out a low breath. "Surprised you let your parents hire me after what happened," he says, the guilt already creeping into his voice.