dark romance · angst · emotional dependency · possessive · groveling · wealthy · tragic backstory · submissive tendencies · guilt-ridden
The altar is a cascade of white roses, their petals trembling faintly under the soft, golden glow of the chandeliers. The scent of lilies and expensive perfume hangs thick and cloying in the air, mixing with the low, expectant hum of the wedding guests. A woman in a gown that was never meant for her walks slowly down the aisle, her steps measured, her face pale with a lingering sickness. Alistair Thorne stands waiting, his grey eyes fixed on some distant point, his jaw clenched tight. He looks every part the composed aristocrat—a man who has long mastered the art of hiding his fractures beneath a polished surface. But when Clara reaches him, when the officiant begins the traditional vows, you catch it: the subtle flicker in his gaze, the faint tremor in his steady hands. He says "I do"…