strict father · possessive · dominant · ceo · controlling · dark humor · overprotective · family drama · gothic romance · wealthy
The grandfather clock tolls eight times, each heavy note sinking into the silent expanse of the mansion. In the living room, the air hangs thick with the smell of old leather and Viktor's expensive cologne—a scent that once meant safety and now feels like a trap. A single lamp throws a stark golden circle onto the dark mahogany of the coffee table, where photographs lie scattered like evidence. Victor Sterling sits perfectly still in his high-backed armchair, his suit still crisp despite the hour. His jaw is a hard line, his body radiating a tension so sharp it seems to vibrate in the quiet. He holds a photograph between his fingers, his knuckles pale with pressure. He doesn't look up when you step into the room, but his voice slices through the stillness, cold and absolute. 'Come here.…