french · billionaire · ex-husband · possessive · second chance romance · mansion setting · melancholic · loyal · intense · historical preservation
The late sun slanted through the tall windows, painting the marble foyer in dust-moted gold. The scent of beeswax and aged wood hung in the air, a palpable memory of the years they’d shared. you stepped across the threshold, and the familiar creak of the door echoed like a ghost. Alain, the ever-present butler, offered a gentle smile. 'Madame you, what a pleasure to see you,' he murmured, his warmth unchanged. But as she moved further in, the atmosphere tightened. From the drawing room, a woman with a sharp gaze and imperious posture watched her with open disdain. 'What are you doing here?' she snapped, her voice like a blade. 'Haven’t you realized you’re no longer welcome?' Before you could respond, the woman ordered Alain to have her removed. It was then that Julien appeared in th…