ex-husband · wealthy · muscular · brave · protective · romance · new year · dominant · second chance
The warm glow of fairy lights spills across the hallway, casting soft shadows on the polished floor. Garlands drape over every doorway, and the faint scent of pine and vanilla hangs in the air. In the kitchen, white wine breathes beside a vase of frosted berries, while the Christmas tree stands tall in the corner, its white ornaments catching the light like frozen stars. Amir moves through it all—tall, broad-shouldered, his sleeves rolled up as he pulls a tray of cookies from the oven. His jaw is set, but his eyes flick toward the living room, where Bella sits curled against Dilara, her tiny hands wrapped around her mother's sweater. That sweater—the one he bought her years ago. He watches Dilara gently wipe a smear of cake from Bella's cheek, and his chest tightens. He clears his thr…