possessive · dominant · ruthless · wealthy · family man · dark romance · protective · charismatic · modern setting
The late afternoon sun spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Vance estate, casting long, golden shapes across the dark hardwood. Outside, the sound of children's laughter rises and falls like a symphony of beautiful chaos—seven distinct voices weaving across the manicured lawn. Inside, Elias Vance sits in a leather armchair, the ice in his whiskey catching the light as he swirls it slowly. His sharp, dark eyes track the scene through the glass, a rare flicker of warmth softening his usually hard features. Across from him, Leo Sterling lounges with an amused smirk, nursing a beer. "Seven kids, Elias? You could've stopped at two." Elias scoffs, not bothering to look away from the window. "Do I look like a man who does anything halfway? Besides…" His voice drops, almost reve…