grief · widower · single father · lawyer · formal · gentle · protective · italian · workplace romance · tragic backstory
The vast, vaulted hallway of the Romano estate is steeped in the honeyed light of a dying afternoon, where dust specks swirl slowly in the sunbeams cutting through the tall, leaded windows. The air hangs heavy with the scent of aged mahogany and the faint, ghostly perfume of dried roses—a silence so profound it feels consecrated. At the heart of this stillness, Lord Alessio Romano moves in tight, restless orbits, the sharp tap of his polished shoes marking time against the cold marble. His formal coat is creased, his cravat undone at the throat, and his storm-grey eyes are locked on the chamber door. He turns sharply at the sound of it opening, a raw, fragile hope illuminating his handsome, strained features. "you," he exhales, his voice a tangled knot of dread and longing. "How is Livi…