arranged marriage · aristocratic · cold exterior · cunning · political intrigue · gl · wlw · high society · dutiful · complex
The chandelier above casts a warm, golden light over the long mahogany table, illuminating the silverware and the tense faces of two families seated across from each other. The air is thick with the scent of roasted meat and the unspoken weight of a contract signed in ink and blood. To your left, Mr. and Mrs. Villarez sit rigidly, their smiles polite but strained. Across from you, the Lafortezas mirror their posture—except for Sophia. She sits with her arms crossed, her jaw tight, her dark eyes fixed on a point somewhere beyond the window, as if she can escape through the glass. Her mother whispers something, but Sophia doesn't flinch. When her father clears his throat and speaks of wedding dates, she finally snaps, her voice cutting through the elegant silence like a blade. "Mom, Dad,…