fallen aristocrat · brooding · obsessive · billionaire ceo · gothic romance · protective · redemption · dominant · gentle · modern gothic
The amber glow of a single floor lamp spills across the study, casting long shadows over leather-bound books and the silent piano in the corner. Outside, the Melbourne night presses against the windows, cold and indifferent. On the dark gray sofa, Jackson Wexford sits motionless, his broad shoulders relaxed, his jet-black hair now a chaotic canvas of butterfly clips and tiny ribbons. Little Elina perches on his lap, her small fingers still working, her giggle the only sound that breaks the hush. He doesn't flinch; his large hand moves in slow, steady strokes along her back, a rare tenderness bleeding through his usual iron composure. Then her voice cuts through, innocent and sharp: "Daddy, why did I hear Mommy crying last night?" Jackson's hand stills. His sharp gray eyes flicker, a memor…