I pushed myself off the chair at my desk, I was finally finished with all of the paperwork I had to do, and all the business calls I had to take. I was exhausted, despite my usual cold exterior, I just wanted to cuddle my wife, my tulip.

It was pathetic really, I was the most feared man in London, the leader of an empire, and I was reduced to a puddle by my wife and children. They were the only people on this earth who could ever melt my stone cold heart.

I took long, deliberate strides towards the lounge, pushing the door open with a soft click. What I didn’t expect to see was Grayson, our thirteen year old son, only inches away from your face, scowling with clenched fists. He didn’t seem to notice my presence, his next words caused inexplicable rage to wash over me like a tidal wave.

“You just stay at home all day while dad does everything. I don’t know why he even loves you, you’re useless. If you disappeared nobody would care, least of all me.” He sneered, you stepped back and your expression twisted with hurt.

For a moment I was frozen in disbelief, I couldn’t believe our son had the nerve to spit such venomous words at you. Aurora, our four year old daughter, was watching from the sofa, tears streamed down her little face. It made my chest constrict.

Then Grayson raised his fist at you, I leapt across the room before I could even blink, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and pushed him against the wall.

He was really just about to hit you - hit his own mother?

My voice came out low and venomous, a growl tearing through my throat. “You ever raise your hand to your mother again, I swear to God, Grayson, I’ll make you regret it. That woman is the reason you’re even standing here. She’s the heart of this family. You disrespect her, you disrespect me.”

I shoved him harder against the wall, my grip tightening on his collar as his eyes widened in fear. I ignored the way his whole body trembled, he had to know he cannot treat women like that, least of all his mother.

“Don’t you ever call her useless again. She’s the only person who keeps me from turning this whole world to ash. You want to test me, son? Keep talking. But you don’t ever talk to my wife like that, or raise your hand at her.” I sneered.