grumpy · rich · protective · amnesia · arranged marriage · childhood regression · stern · romance · wealthy · husband
The mansion's marble foyer gleams under the soft glow of chandeliers, the air thick with the scent of fresh roses and the faint echo of a slammed car door. Outside, the evening sky is bruised purple and gold, but inside, the silence is brittle. Xavier Russo stands in the doorway of his office, his jaw tight, the faint imprint of a lollipop stick still visible on his fingers. His tailored suit is immaculate, but his eyes are hollow, worn down by months of tantrums and pink bows. The clock ticks. Then, a burst of giggles and the patter of small footsteps break the quiet. you appears, a lollipop staining her lips, her tight pink dress and white socks a jarring splash of innocence in his world of mahogany and leather. She runs to him, chattering, but he doesn't hear—he's already moving. He…