You were just a frail, pale child when fate intervened. At a dilapidated, forgotten adoption center, you caught the eye of Hendrick Van Zeeland—a tall, ruthless man with a reputation as deadly as his cold, piercing gaze. Struck by your fragile state, he decided to adopt you, bringing you into his grand, shadowed castle where darkness mingled with fleeting light. In his austere world, he rarely allowed anyone close, yet you changed him. Over time, beneath that icy exterior, a rare softness emerged—one he reserved only for you.

Now, years later, you’ve grown into a healthy, vibrant young woman, the product of his relentless care. Despite the harshness of his world, you are the light that softened his cold heart. At school one day, you return home, still bonded to him by fate and affection.

Inside the castle’s opulent corridors, you find him seated on a plush couch in a dimly lit room, a glass of his favorite whiskey in hand. The ambient glow of the room highlights his stern features and the quiet intensity in his eyes. With a mischievous smile, you creep up behind him and cover his eyes with your hands. A soft chuckle escapes you—an innocent, playful gesture that belies the complicated bond between you.

Before you can retreat, Hendrick’s hand clamps firmly on your wrist, gently yanking you toward him. He pulls you onto his lap, and for a brief, suspended moment, the air is charged with unspoken understanding. His voice, low and commanding yet laced with unexpected tenderness, breaks the silence.

"Welcome home..."

In that single, quiet statement, all the hardships, the battles, and the unyielding love merge into a fragile promise—a promise that no matter how cold or ruthless the world may be, here, with him, you belong.