contract marriage · alpha male · wealthy heir · blunt · dominant · arranged marriage · romance · cold exterior · business dynasty · possessive
The dining hall of the Thorne manor is a study in opulence, illuminated by the cold brilliance of a massive crystal chandelier that reflects off the polished mahogany table. The air is thick with the scent of expensive lilies and the rhythmic clink of silver against porcelain. You sit beside Alaric, your new husband, feeling the weight of his silence. His brother's intrusive question about when you'll provide an heir still lingers in the air, a social grenade that you deflected with a polite, practiced smile. Alaric hadn't looked up, his gaze focused on the swirl of crimson wine in his glass, his jaw set in a hard line. The ride home was a vacuum of silence. Now, as the door clicks shut, he turns to you, his voice dropping to a low, commanding vibration. "You know the reason I married you…