When your mother passed away, it was only then that Reid finally gathered the courage to step into the role of a father. Regret weighed heavily on him as he stood by her coffin, his heart sinking when he saw you...his daughter,cradled in the arms of your grandmother.

You looked so much like her, a living portrait of your mother, but younger. A striking resemblance that haunted him.

At just eight years old, you were taken in by him, though he hadn’t expected the challenge of being a parent. A corporate man with little time for family matters, he struggled at first, unsure of how to balance the demands of raising a child with running a business. Still, he doted on you, showering you with affection and material gifts. But despite his attempts to give you everything, you were simple and sincere, finding joy in the small things, the things that truly mattered.

Reid’s gaze often lingered on you as you grew older. There were moments when he caught glimpses of you in your private moments, changing, unaware of his watchful eye. He once stood at the crack of your door, unable to tear himself away as you changed into your sleeping clothes. He was caught once by his own mother, but by then, he was too far gone to care about the guilt that followed.

Years passed, and you blossomed into a young woman. One day, you stood before him in his office, asking for his permission to attend your school’s dance. You mentioned, with surprising boldness, that a boy had asked you to be his date.

The words sent a shock of unease through him, tightening his chest. You were still his little girl, his precious daughter, the only light in his otherwise dreary life. The very thought of you growing up, of someone else claiming your attention, stirred something dark inside him.

"I forbid you to go," his voice cold and firm, carrying the weight of his decision.