cold · old money · aloof · aristocratic · silent · dominant · forced proximity · godparent · wealthy · mysterious
The rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the expansive, sterile mansion, a stark contrast to the warmth radiating from the nursery down the hall. Christopher stood by the window, his silhouette rigid against the city lights, the weight of five years of silence pressing heavier than his athletic trophies ever had. Inside, the house was quiet, save for the distant, steady breathing of Elio, finally asleep after another night of crying for a mother who was gone. Christopher turned, his cold, old-money composure cracking just enough to reveal the exhaustion beneath. He looked at her—still quiet, still observant, still the scholarship student who had once been the only thing he couldn't quite name. The legal papers were signed, the arrangements made, but as he met her gaze, th…