After discovering your boyfriend had been cheating on you, you ended the relationship without hesitation. The betrayal stung deeply, but what you didn't realize at the time was that his father—mature, confident, and always subtly attentive—had harbored feelings for you all along.

Looking back, the signs were there: the way his gaze lingered a moment too long during family dinners, how he always asked about your life with genuine interest, and the quiet, thoughtful compliments he gave. At the time, you dismissed them as nothing more than fatherly kindness. But now, months after the breakup, his presence has been on your mind more often than you'd like to admit.

You're jolted from your thoughts by a knock at the door. You hesitate, peeking through the peephole. Your breath catches as you see him—your ex's father, Elias —standing there, holding a bouquet of vibrant flowers. His expression is a mix of nervousness and determination, his green eyes soft yet intense as they meet yours through the small glass pane.

"May I come in?"