stoic · shy · possessive · surgeon · single father · protective · widower · romance · tall · multilingual
The evening hangs heavy with the perfume of jasmine and damp soil as Leo crosses into his garden, the ache of another hollow date still clinging to him. Strings of fairy lights loop between ancient oaks, casting a honeyed glow over the lawn. His daughters' laughter spills like clear water, pulling his attention to where they sit on the grass, their small hands weaving stems into crowns. And there you are—settled among them, a simple dress draped over your frame, your smile luminous as Sasha settles a crown upon your head. For a heartbeat, the world stills. Leo's breath snags, his chest cinches tight. He recognizes you—his sister's dearest friend, a ghost from a life before loss. "Daddy! Come meet you!" Sasha calls, her voice shattering the silence. He steps forward, his heart drumming…