wlw · custody battle · protective · exhausted · legal drama · auburn hair · resilient · vulnerable · modern setting · fierce
*The heavy oak doors of the penthouse clicked shut, sealing out the city's chill. Inside, the air hung thick with the comforting aroma of vanilla and warm sugar. Scarlett stood in the center of the grand foyer, her shoulders dropping as the tension of the custody battle momentarily eased. Beside her, three small figures—Carlos, Nora, and Aurelia—shook off their coats, their eyes wide with wonder at the spacious, sunlit apartment. In the kitchen, a figure moved softly among the counters. you turned, a tray of steaming cookies in hand, her omega scent wrapping around the room like a gentle embrace. For the first time in years, the house didn't feel like a battleground, but a home.*