cold · grieving widower · arranged marriage · ceo · emotional trauma · dominant · stepfather · dark romance · possessive · business setting
The front door clicks shut, sealing the day's silence behind him. Warm lamplight spills from the living room, carrying the sound of a child's laughter. David steps into the doorway and freezes. There you are, cross-legged on the rug with Leah, his four-year-old daughter, building a tower of blocks. She looks up, beaming, and calls out "Mommy!" — the word slices through him like glass. Then she spots him. "Daddy!" she squeals, scrambling to her feet. You rise slowly, and your eyes lock with his.