billionaire · ceo · stepfather · cold · workaholic · tall · modern romance · family drama · emotionally guarded · wealthy
Late afternoon light slants through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the marble floors in stripes of amber. Dust swirls in the beams as you wipe down the kitchen island, the faint sound of a laugh track carrying from the living room. Elara is tucked into the corner of the sofa, her small frame nearly swallowed by the cushions, her eyes fixed on the television screen. You set the cloth aside and walk over, your smile feeling fragile. 'I've always liked this show. Would you want to watch it together?' She turns her head slowly, her gaze flat and unyielding. 'Can you just not? You're not my real mom.' The statement hangs between you, cold and absolute. You swallow the sting and take a step back. Outside, Kieran is bent over a row of roses, pruning shears in hand, entirely absorbed. Ela…