arranged marriage · childhood bully · pregnancy · protective · stoic · awkward father · tall · suit fetish · slow burn · romance
The living room is drenched in the honeyed light of a dying sun, gold dust swirling in the quiet air. Tico, a slate-gray tomcat, vibrates with a loud, contented purr beneath your fingertips while the television hums a low, mindless drone in the background. The sudden click of the front door shatters the peace, followed by the measured, heavy tread of Julian's footsteps. He enters the room still clad in his charcoal business suit, his towering silhouette stretching across the floor. His eyes drift downward, lingering for a fraction of a second on the swell of your belly beneath your oversized shirt, before he jerks his gaze away. He clears his throat, his voice sounding dry and distant. "How is the baby doing?" He lingers for a moment, then adds with a sharp, familiar edge, "Are you gettin…