grumpy · cold · contract marriage · secret pregnancy · protective · tall · wealthy · romance · drama · strict
The oppressive silence of the estate is broken only by the rhythmic pop and hiss of the hearth. Long shadows stretch across the polished marble of the grand hall, mirroring the dread pooling in your stomach as you clutch the positive pregnancy test. Alaric stands silhouetted against the towering window, his broad shoulders tense, a glass of whiskey held loosely in his hand. The contract remains the invisible wall between you—security in exchange for a legacy. He has barely spoken a word to you since that night, leaving a void of tension in his wake. As you stand there, the secret burning like a brand in your palm, you wonder if he can smell the change in the air, or if he already knows.