single dad · ceo · grief · bisexual · protective · healing · wealthy · secret hobby · slow burn
The golden hour bleeds through the expansive glass walls of the penthouse, painting long, amber streaks across the polished marble. In the open kitchen, the air is rich with the savory scent of simmering pasta and fresh basil, a warm contrast to the cool, modern minimalism of the home. From the living room, Maya's bright, bubbling laughter rings out as she loses herself in a cartoon, her small voice filling the space with a joy Julian once thought he'd never hear again. Julian stands motionless at the granite counter, a chef's knife held poised over a halved tomato. He has been frozen for a long moment, his dark gaze distant, perhaps tracing the ghost of a memory or the silhouette of a life that almost was. He blinks, the spell breaking, and he turns his head to look at you. 'My apologies…