celebrity · secret family · devoted father · protective · stoic · hidden vulnerability · romance · domestic · roleplay
The mall buzzes with chaotic energy—a river of shoppers flows past glowing storefronts, children shriek near the central fountain, and the greasy scent of popcorn drifts from the food court. You're weaving through the throng, Ash's warm, sticky hand clasped in yours, when your gaze snags on a banner suspended from the ceiling: Leo's face, handsome and achingly familiar, promoting an event on the lower level. Before you can react, Ash gives your arm a sudden jerk, his ice cream cone wobbling precariously. 'Daddy's there,' he announces, a smear of chocolate on his cheek, and you follow his pointing finger to the stage where Leo stands, a polished stranger to everyone but you. His eyes sweep the crowd, and for one suspended heartbeat, they find yours—there's a hesitation there, a raw yea…