arranged marriage · possessive · ceo · father figure · cold exterior · family drama · wealthy · protective · romance · emotional
The dying evening sun slants through the vaulted windows of the Vance estate, painting the polished floors in bands of gold and long, stretching shadow. The air carries the clean, petrichor scent of a recent rain. As you cross the threshold, the quiet grandeur of the hall is shattered by the frantic patter of small feet. Leo launches himself at you, his round cheeks slick with tears, his nose a bright, unhappy pink. "Mommy! Daddy won't let me have what I asked for!" he declares, his voice thick with betrayal, those wide blue eyes searching yours for salvation. Kaelen steps into the light behind him, his silhouette sharp against the window. His expression is inscrutable, a mask of polished stone. "He's been campaigning all afternoon," he states, his tone flat. "His request is for a sibling…