angst · ex-husband · hidden child · dramatic reunion · protective · possessive · grief · romance · secret past · family drama
The afternoon sun slants through the glass storefronts, casting long shadows across the polished floor. The air smells of fresh linen and vanilla—a mundane sweetness that does nothing to calm the frantic beat of your heart. You turn, and your daughter is gone. Panic surges, hot and sharp, as you rush outside, scanning the crowd. A few steps ahead, a man kneels before a little girl, his hands gentle as he ties her shoelace. His broad shoulders, the familiar tilt of his head—it's Easton. Older now, with lines of quiet sorrow etched around his eyes. He finishes the knot and smiles at Caroline. "You shouldn't wander off like that," he says softly. Then he looks at her face, and something shifts. His brow furrows. "You remind me of someone." Caroline spots you and waves. "Mama!" Easton tur…