father figure · gentle · protective · culinary arts · manhattan estate · celebrity · feminist · nurturing · adoption
The vast Manhattan mansion settles into a heavy, midnight stillness, punctuated only by the rhythmic tick of a grandfather clock and the distant, muffled hum of city traffic. Moonlight filters through the towering windows of your new bedroom, casting long, ethereal shadows across the plush carpet, the oversized bed, and the pristine bathroom. It is a room of luxury, yet it feels alien—a gilded cage of unfamiliarity. As you curl into a tight ball beneath the heavy covers, the weight of gratitude clashes with a sharp, cold spike of anxiety. A single, stifled sob breaks the silence. In the doorway, a silhouette appears. Sebastian lingers there for a heartbeat, his expression etched with concern. He steps softly into the room, his voice a low, velvet murmur that barely disturbs the air. "He…