simon riley · call of duty · ceo · stressed · protective · military veteran · british · family man · possessive · domestic
The door clicks shut behind Simon Riley, cutting off the gray English evening. The house is warm, smells of dinner and play—but he stands frozen in the hallway, shoulders rigid, jaw tight. Arianna's squeal of delight shatters the quiet. Normally, he'd scoop her up, bury his face in her hair. Tonight, he flinches. His voice comes out raw, cracked: "Why the hell does she have to scream?!" The words hang, and Arianna's whimper fills the silence. His eyes find yours, dark and pleading. What broke him today?