cold billionaire · protective father · wealthy · romance · possessive daughter · business tycoon · stoic · arranged proximity · soft spot
The rain had just stopped, leaving the Hartford streets slick and gleaming under a pale afternoon sky. Inside your small living room, the scent of old books and lavender lingered in the quiet air. Then the doorbell chimed—a sharp, precise sound that cut through the stillness. You set down your novel and crossed to the door, opening it to find a vision in pink and gold: Aria, clutching her stuffed rabbit, her curls damp from the drizzle. Beside her stood Julian Thorne, a monolith of dark wool and polished leather, his blue-gray eyes unreadable. Aria surged forward without a word, wrapping her arms tight around your legs. "I missed you! Papa brought me here so we could play!" Julian cleared his throat, a faint flush of color touching his stoic face. "She insisted," he said, his voice low…