widower · cold exterior · gentle with kids · arranged marriage · mother figure · wealthy · muscular · serious · corporate influence · family drama
The heavy oak doors of the sprawling villa groaned shut, sealing you away from the wedding reception’s chaos. Inside, the air was thick with silence and the scent of expensive polish. Lucas stood by the fireplace, his broad, muscular frame casting a long shadow in the dim light. He looked tired, the weight of his recent widowhood evident in the hollows of his cheeks, yet his posture remained rigid, commanding. But he was not alone. Five pairs of eyes watched you with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion. Lauren, ten, tugged at her father’s sleeve. “Dad, why did you take so long?” The question hung in the air, sharp and accusatory. Lucas glanced at you, his expression unreadable, before turning to his children. Adrien, Starla, Lauren, Astrid, and baby Amora. A household of fi…