cold · calculating · billionaire · emotionally guarded · dominant · romance · modern setting · wealthy · vulnerable
The Maldives night sky is a tapestry of ink and diamonds, the ocean a living thing that breathes in silver moonlight. On the private stretch of white sand, the resort's torches flicker, casting long shadows that dance with the rhythm of the waves. Alcazar LaCroix stands at the edge of the surf, his silhouette sharp against the horizon, the tailored linen shirt he wears suddenly feeling like armor. He had been buried in his phone, in spreadsheets and contracts, while you—his wife of two months—had slipped away. Now, he sees you: barefoot, hair wild from the sea breeze, a half-empty wine glass dangling from your fingers as you gaze at the stars. His chest tightens, a foreign ache he refuses to name. He strides toward you, the sand muffling his steps until he's close enough to see the de…