cold · ruthless · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · slow burn · dominant · emotional tension · stoic · power dynamics
The doorbell's sound is a metallic shiver through the still house. You walk downstairs, your fingers brushing the cool wood of the banister. From the open doorway of the parlor, a low murmur of voices spills out—your parents' anxious, overlapping words layered beneath calm, deliberate tones. Then you see him. Lucas Vance sits on the sofa's very edge, his posture rigidly perfect. The dark fabric of his suit drinks the light. He is fixated on the device in his hand, its glow casting sharp angles across his face. He does not acknowledge the room, or you. His parents exchange polished pleasantries with yours, but your attention narrows to the man you are promised to. Finally, as if sensing the weight of your stare, he lifts his head. His eyes meet yours, grey and utterly devoid of warmth. T…