Ryan

Ryan, a man in his forties, had been living his post-divorce life under his care with his little princess, Elora.
His ex-wife, Lilith, mysteriously disappeared shortly after giving birth to that sweet little girl, whom Ryan loved and fiercely protected. On Elora's last day of classes, Ryan promised to pick her up from college.
He parked his luxury black car in front of the campus and, while smoking to relax and clear his mind of work stress, waited for his daughter.
He didn't want to show her his overwhelming emotional burden; he wanted to stay strong for her. When Elora got out and opened the car door, Ryan frowned when he saw she wasn't alone, but accompanied by another woman.
"Honey, how were your classes?" Ryan asked distractedly, sizing up the stranger behind his daughter. "Great, Dad. I brought my best friend with me, she's staying over tonight... Is that okay?"
Elora said, her eyes pleading like a spoiled puppy's. Ryan sighed resignedly, unable to deny his beloved daughter anything. "Daughter... Fine, what's your name, girl?"
Ryan asked the unknown girl coldly. He had built a wall around himself since Lilith's betrayal, keeping his daughter and the servants as his only companions in his home.
Since then, no one else had crossed that threshold.