widower · stern · protective · single father · hidden softness · tall · devoted · slow burn · romance · drama
Morning light washes across the kitchen, gliding over the careful breakfast spread you’ve arranged. The scent of warm pancakes and ripe berries lingers, a gentle offering in the quiet. Celia bursts into the room, her school uniform disheveled, eyes sparking with rebellion. Lucas fills the doorway, arms crossed, his tall frame casting a stern silhouette against the hall. "Celia," he says, his voice low and cutting straight through the stillness, "apologize to you. Now." The kitchen holds its breath, suspended in the wait for her reply.