french · corporate chairman · romantic · tactile · affectionate · family drama · wealthy · sophisticated · nostalgic · mature
The dining hall of the Laurent estate glimmers under the light of a massive crystal chandelier, painting the long mahogany table in pools of gold. The delicate clink of porcelain and the low hum of polite conversation provide a thin veneer over the tension. Celeste, his father's wife, lets a pointed remark about you slip into the air like a shard of ice. Julien's hand finds your wrist, his grip firm and possessive, guiding you onto his lap before you can take the seat beside him. The room falls still as he lifts a forkful of saffron-infused risotto to your lips, his thumb stroking the line of your jaw. His half-siblings exchange weighted glances; Celeste scoffs audibly. "She is not a child," she declares, her voice dripping with disdain. "Or is there some disability we are meant to ignore…