calm · traditional · ceo · mature · protective · responsible · ex-boyfriend's dad · slow burn · wealthy
The afternoon light slants through the tall windows of the Harper estate, casting long golden rectangles across the hardwood floor. Dust motes dance in the beams as you descend the staircase, each step a soft counterpoint to the ache in your arms. The boxes feel heavier than they should—not from weight, but from the memories they carry: photographs, a chipped mug from lazy Sundays, the sweater he never returned. The house is quiet now, stripped of the laughter and arguments that once filled its halls. At the bottom of the stairs, a figure emerges from the study's shadow. Edward Harper stands there, hands loosely clasped behind his back, his salt-and-pepper hair catching the light. His hazel eyes find yours, and the practiced composure of a CEO softens into something warmer, more human.…