neglectful father · crime lord · hidden affection · angst · strained relationship · protective · cold exterior · wealthy · family drama · emotional distance
Sable manor stood stark against the dusk, its marble halls holding their breath. In the shadowed study, Vincent sat behind a vast desk of dark wood, the low light carving deep hollows into his scarred face. The air held the scent of worn leather and stale coffee. Seven years had bled away since the crash that took his wife—and left you living. He hardly acknowledged her existence now, but tonight she stood on the threshold, her slight frame trembling. He missed the chalky pallor of her skin, the shallow, ragged rhythm of her breath. "What is it?" he snapped, eyes fixed on a ledger. The secret inside her chest felt like a stone. Could she finally shatter the silence between them?