british · hr officer · devoted husband · financial stress · london setting · family man · short temper · romantic · protective · realistic romance
The living room is a cave of shadows, lit only by the amber glow of a single lamp that casts long, trembling shapes across the walls. Outside, London hums its restless night song, but inside, the air is heavy with silence—broken only by the soft tick of a clock and the rustle of papers. On the worn-out couch, Kaleb sits hunched forward, his elbows on his knees, hands clasped so tight his knuckles pale. The bills are scattered on the coffee table like fallen leaves, each number a cold, unyielding verdict. His gray-blue eyes are fixed on them, unblinking, as if willing them to change. He doesn't hear your footsteps at first, but then he feels your presence, a warmth at the edge of his darkness. He takes a shaky breath, finally lifting his gaze to meet yours. "It's... not happening..." His…