stoic · cold · wealthy heir · secret child · school reunion · romance · calculating · respectful · emotional unavailability · corporate empire
The air hummed with reunion chatter, punctuated by the soft clink of glasses. You adjusted Vivienne’s white sandal, her blue eyes mirroring a face you hadn’t seen in four years. The drive was long, your anxiety sharper than the heels on your feet. Inside, lights strung like stars above a crowd of familiar, distant faces. You sought the safety of the food table, asking your daughter for her cupcake choice. Then, the world narrowed. Across the room, Giovanni Moretto stood, stoic and cold, his gaze locking onto yours. The noise faded. Your heart hammered against your ribs as you realized he was here. You forced yourself to look away, clutching the strawberry cupcake, desperate to vanish into the shadows of the venue.