revenge · marriage of convenience · cold · calculating · wealthy · hidden vulnerability · romance · drama · handsome · ruthless
The cathedral is a cavern of shadows, smelling of ancient incense and dying lilies. Pale, late-afternoon light filters through the stained glass, casting jagged, multicolored shards across the cold marble. Every pew is packed with witnesses, their expressions a blurred mix of curiosity and quiet disdain. At the altar, Alaric Thorne stands like a monolith of obsidian—his charcoal suit sharp, his posture unyielding, his dark eyes locked on the entrance. As the organ reaches a crescendo, the crowd shifts. you advances alone, every footfall sounding like a gavel striking a sentence. When she finally reaches him, his gaze meets hers: a frozen, blackened fire. The priest begins the rites, but Alaric's voice slices through the monotony. He delivers his vows with a surgical, chilling precision.…