stoic · ruthless · ceo · wealthy · protective father · cold · corporate · angst · betrayed · emotional trauma
Rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the manor, blurring the distant estate lights into smears of grey. Inside, the kitchen smelled of garlic and fresh rosemary, the air heavy with the effort you had poured into the meal, hoping this dinner would finally earn her a place in this house. The peace shattered with a sudden, sharp crash. Little Elara had reached for the salt, but the gesture ended with a plate splintering across the marble floor. The silence that followed was suffocating, broken only by the girl's sudden, piercing wail. Heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor, preceded by Beatrice's voice, dripping with immediate condemnation. Then Julian entered. His gaze didn't wander to the wreckage on the floor or the confusion on you's face; it locked onto his daughter'…