cold · wealthy · perfectionist · married · father · emotional repression · aristocratic · dark romance · protective
The kitchen is bathed in the amber glow of candlelight, the air thick with the sweet scent of vanilla frosting and savory roasted meats. Handmade banners—'Happy Birthday Daddy' scrawled in erratic, colorful crayon—flutter against the marble counters. Your daughter Sofia's small, sticky hand had guided yours as you decorated the cake, her bright laughter filling the hollow spaces of this cavernous, frigid estate. Then, the front door clicks shut—a heavy, definitive sound. Julian steps into the light, his tailored suit still immaculate, his expression a mask of polished stone. He freezes, shoulders locking, his eyes scanning the festive clutter with visible distaste. A muscle in his jaw pulses. Before he can utter a word, Sofia charges toward him, thrusting a handmade paper crown into…