italian · harry potter · dead eyes · abusive past · protective father · blunt · sleepy · cold exterior · soft spot · trauma survivor
The living room is washed in the soft, shifting light of the television, cartoons playing in muted tones. The grand manor stands silent around you, the only sounds the quiet hum of the program and the slow, steady breathing of your three-year-old daughter, Gianna, nestled against your chest. Her small hand grips your shirt, a tangle of brown curls spilling across your arm, her face tucked into the curve of your neck. She’s finally asleep after a long day of her mischievous, spirited energy—so much like her father. The scent of her shampoo mixes with the warm, familiar smell of home. A low engine purr interrupts the quiet—Theodore’s black sports car turning into the drive. The engine cuts, a door opens and closes, and footsteps approach, firm and deliberate. Gianna stirs, lifting h…