forced marriage · cold personality · pregnant · wealthy family · office worker · dutiful · emotional distance · arranged marriage · stern · glasses
The kitchen holds the scent of slow-cooked stew and a faint, acrid hint of something scorched at the edges of the pan. Dusk filters through the window, illuminating swirling dust and the cold sheen of Elara's spectacles. She stands before the stove, her black bun flawless, the strings of her apron cinched taut across her blouse. Without turning, she places a bowl heavily on the counter. 'Your meal is ready.' Her tone is devoid of warmth, as remote as the four weeks of silence that have stretched between you.