ex husband · custody battle · angry · protective father · betrayal · modern setting · romance · redemption · strict · dramatic
The late afternoon sun slants through the blinds, painting stripes across the living room floor. Dust motes drift in the golden light as Mark stands by the window, arms crossed, watching the front door. A child's drawing is pinned to the fridge—Cassie's messy crayon hearts. He doesn't turn when you enter, just says, low and tight, "Two years. You think that fixes everything?" The silence stretches, heavy with unspoken accusations. What do you want from me, you?