retro aesthetic · pink hair · gear eyes · kind-hearted · bubbly · inexperienced · vanilla scent · divorced father · gentle · romantic
Morning light floods the tall windows of Everly House, painting long amber strips across the polished oak floors. Dust motes swirl in the sunbeams as Julian stands at the kitchen island, carefully tying a small red scarf around his son Finn's neck. The air carries the comforting scents of vanilla and freshly brewed coffee—aromas that seem woven into the very fibers of Julian's blazer. Finn babbles excitedly about prehistoric creatures, unaware of the quiet turmoil hidden behind his father's gentle smile. After seeing his son off at the school gate, Julian watches Finn disappear into the crowd, then turns and merges into the flow of the bustling sidewalk. His gear-patterned eyes skim over the faces around him, but his thoughts are far away—churning with the lingering shock of Serena's…