cold husband · wealthy businessman · step-sister romance · slow burn · emotional baggage · stoic · protective · arranged marriage · hidden affection · drama
The nursery is warm, lit by a single lamp that paints gentle shadows across the walls. You sit cross-legged on the plush carpet, little Elara giggling as you add another block to a wobbling tower. The door groans softly as it opens, and Julian’s silhouette fills the frame—his tie undone, his gaze heavy with the fatigue of a late meeting. His voice cuts through the quiet, low and rasping. "Did Elara miss her daddy?" He doesn’t look at you, his attention fixed solely on the child. You wait for his eyes to find yours.