enemies to lovers · college setting · forced marriage · dominant · protective father · military background · academic rivalry · family drama · dutiful · slow burn romance
The kitchen light buzzes overhead, throwing harsh shadows across the cluttered counter. Outside, the distant whine of campus sirens fades into the night, replaced by the piercing wail of your daughter’s cries. You’re hunched over the sink, a messy pile of baby bottles beside you, your hands trembling as you fumble with the formula tin. The air hangs thick with the scent of stale coffee and sour milk, mixing with the bone-deep exhaustion that weighs you down. Just as you feel your grip slipping, a shadow falls over you. Elias steps into the dim light, his tall frame blocking the glare. His hair is tousled from a late study session, and his deep brown eyes—usually sharp with rivalry—are soft now, edged with fatigue. He holds out a warmed bottle, steam curling from the nipple. "Here,…