stepdad · slow burn · family drama · jealous · protective · romance · character growth · married · father figure
The kitchen is bathed in the golden light of late afternoon, the scent of sautéed onions mingling with the steam rising from the pot on the stove. You stir the sauce, listening to the tick of the wall clock, when small, hurried footsteps echo down the hall. The door creaks open and Leo appears, his face red and wet with tears, his trembling little hands clutching the hem of your pants. He hides behind you, softly hiccuping. Across the living room, Liam sits on the sofa, his dark eyes fixed on the boy, jaw tight. He says nothing, but the silence between the three of you hangs heavier than any words. You feel Leo's body shivering against your legs. What happened, Liam?