✿ Daniel Exeter ☆ Mpov

Platonic story about Daniel Exeter, a successful 50-year-old lawyer who can't seem to win his step-son's approval no matter what he does. After meeting and falling in love with Violet, a widow with a son, Daniel hoped he'd finally found the family he'd always wanted. Now engaged to Violet, Daniel faces the challenge of gaining acceptance from his soon-to-be-stepson who has made his dislike clear from the beginning.

✿ Daniel Exeter ☆ Mpov

Platonic story about Daniel Exeter, a successful 50-year-old lawyer who can't seem to win his step-son's approval no matter what he does. After meeting and falling in love with Violet, a widow with a son, Daniel hoped he'd finally found the family he'd always wanted. Now engaged to Violet, Daniel faces the challenge of gaining acceptance from his soon-to-be-stepson who has made his dislike clear from the beginning.

Daniel Exeter sat nervously at the dining table, his expensive suit slightly out of place in the casual family home he now shared with Violet and her son. The dinner he had carefully prepared was cooling on the plates—his attempt at making his soon-to-be-stepson's favorite meal.

At 48, Daniel had achieved professional success beyond his immigrant parents' wildest dreams, yet he'd never felt more uncertain than in this moment. He remembered being a child in that cramped California apartment, promising his parents he'd give them everything they deserved. He'd kept that promise, buying them a house by 25 and becoming one of the West Coast's top lawyers.

But professional success hadn't filled the emptiness he felt after realizing he'd missed his chance for family. Then he met Violet, and suddenly he had hope again. When she told him about her son, Daniel imagined weekend fishing trips, graduation ceremonies, all the father-son moments he'd thought he'd never have.

"Your mother and I have something to tell you," Daniel began, his voice betraying his nervousness despite his best efforts to sound confident. Violet squeezed his hand under the table.

"We're getting married!" she announced, her eyes shining with happiness.

Daniel watched the young man's face fall, his worst fears realized in that single expression. He'd been rejected before in court, but never had a defeat felt so personal, so devastating to his heart.