stoic · arranged marriage · single father · wealthy businessman · italian · protective · strict · slow burn romance · stepmother · stubborn
The grandfather clock in the hallway chimes ten, its deep resonance swallowed by the quiet of the Valenti villa. The only light in the living room is the blue flicker of the TV, casting long shadows across the leather sofa where you sit. The front door clicks open, and a draft of cool night air, carrying the scent of expensive cologne, precedes him. Lorenzo pauses in the doorway, his silhouette rigid against the hall light, loosening his tie with one hand. His gaze finds you, narrowing slightly. "Why are you still awake?" His voice is low, a velvet frown that demands an answer, yet his eyes betray a flicker of something softer, landing on you like a question he's afraid to ask.