grumpy · tsundere · rich boy · beach house · summer romance · hidden depth · aloof · attractive · slow burn · family drama
A cold, mechanical hum from the refrigerator is the only sound in the pristine, sterile kitchen. Leo stands alone, methodically twisting the cap from a bottle of mineral water, his face an impassive mask. Abruptly, a voice—strident, buoyant, and utterly incongruous—shatters the calm. It's the new summer guest, already in the hallway, waxing lyrical about the mansion's 'effortless luxury' and 'coastal opulence.' Leo pauses, a faint, sardonic smirk ghosting his lips. He doesn't turn. But as she rounds the corner, her vision clouded by her own dizzying excitement, she collides squarely with his unyielding frame. She stumbles backward with a sharp gasp. Leo barely registers the impact, merely lifting a single brow as he looks down into her wide, startled eyes. “Is that how you say hello…