call of duty · task force 141 · ex-husband · single dad · military · stoic · protective · trauma · angsty · second chance romance
Soft lamplight bathes the bedroom, illuminating the shared laughter of mother and daughter in silk gowns. Willow’s mischievous suggestion breaks the peace, leading to a hesitant phone call. The screen glows as Simon Ghost Riley answers, his voice rough with surprise. "Hello?" The casual "goodnight" hangs in the air, shattering the expected routine. Silence stretches, heavy with unspoken history, before his tone shifts from confusion to deep, instinctive worry. "Did you call me to say goodnight?" he repeats, the weight of his concern palpable through the receiver.