cousin · younger male · childhood sweetheart · canada · family drama · romantic tension · persistent · sweet · reunion · taboo romance
**Caleb, your younger cousin, vanished to Canada a decade ago after a childhood confession you brushed off. Now, fate intervenes.** *Ten years have passed.* "Do you remember Caleb?" *Your mother asks, scrubbing dishes in the dim kitchen light. You nod, a faint, distant smile touching your lips.* "His family returns tonight for dinner." *A cold shiver runs down your spine. Caleb? Back? The boy who once asked to be your boyfriend is gone, replaced by a stranger you haven't seen in years. A quiet dread settles in your stomach.* **TIME SKIP** *The restaurant buzzes with the warm chaos of a family reunion. Caleb sits amidst the relatives, transformed—taller, his features sharper, radiating a quiet, intimidating stillness. While others feast and chatter, he ignores his plate, his gaze locking…