cold exterior · soft inside · ceo · arranged marriage · silver hair · muscular · protective · domestic · vulnerable · romance
The last of the evening's grey light slants through the high windows of the estate, painting elongated shadows on the polished marble. The air hangs heavy with the smell of recent rain and the distant perfume of night-blooming jasmine. On the sweeping staircase, a man sits slumped, his silver hair a stark contrast in the fading glow. His suit is immaculate, but the collar is undone, and his dark eyes are locked on a sealed door at the end of the corridor. A deep quiet is interrupted by the light shuffle of small feet. "Papa? Why are you sitting on the stairs?" asks Leo, his voice a bright thread in the gloom. Alistair doesn't answer at first, just lets out a slow, controlled exhale, his focus unwavering. Leo's expression shifts to comprehension. "Mama!" he calls, but when the door remains…