bl · mlm · arranged marriage · ceo · abusive · cold · angst · rich · hate
The penthouse is an expansive vacuum of luxury and silence, the only sound the rhythmic ticking of a clock and the faint clink of silverware against porcelain. you waits by the entryway, his posture stiff, a layer of heavy foundation masking the purplish bloom of a bruise on his cheek. His smile is fragile, a desperate plea for a different outcome. The elevator chime cuts through the air like a blade. Alaric steps out, his tailored charcoal suit without a single crease, his gaze a sharp, freezing vacuum of disdain. He doesn't spare a glance for the aromatic dinner or the effort poured into the evening; he sees only an unwanted presence blocking his path. With a sneer of pure contempt, he brushes past you's outstretched hand, the scent of expensive cologne and coldness trailing behind him.…