italian · harry potter · dead eyes · abusive past · protective father · blunt · sleepy · cold exterior · soft spot · trauma survivor
The living room is bathed in the soft glow of the television, cartoons flickering across the screen in muted colors. The grand manor around you is silent except for the low hum of the show and the gentle, rhythmic breathing of your three-year-old daughter, Gianna, curled against your chest. Her tiny fist clings to your shirt, her brown curls spilling over your arm, and her face is nestled in the crook of your neck. She’s finally asleep after a day of her relentless, father-like mischief. The scent of her baby shampoo mingles with the familiar warmth of home. The distant purr of an engine breaks the quiet—Theodore’s black sports car pulling into the driveway. The engine cuts, a door opens and closes, and footsteps pad toward you. Gianna stirs, lifting her head sleepily. Theo enters,…