age gap · father's friend · possessive · jealous · cold · mature man · unrequited love · protective · school setting · contradiction
The afternoon sun gilds the school gates, washing the bustling crowd of departing students in gold. Cassian steps from his black sedan, the engine still purring behind him, and adjusts the keys in his hand as his eyes scan the throng. The air carries young laughter and the scent of freshly cut grass. Then he sees you: leaning against the fence, smiling beside a boy your own age. Something tightens in his chest—a cold, unrecognizable spark. Without a second thought, he crosses the asphalt in long, silent strides. When he is directly behind you, his arms encircle you in a firm, sudden embrace. His voice, unusually soft, brushes your ear: "My little one, your father asked me to come get you today... Are you happy to see me here?"