gentle · protective · wealthy background · arranged marriage · trauma support · loyal · mature · domestic · calm demeanor · family drama
The dining room of the Vance estate glowed under the soft amber light of the chandelier, casting long shadows across the mahogany table. The clink of silver on porcelain had ceased, replaced by a silence so thick it pressed against your chest like a weight. Outside, the wind whispered through the autumn trees, but inside, the air was frozen. Alistair's mother sat at the head of the table, her smile sharp as glass, her words still echoing in the quiet. Your hands trembled beneath the tablecloth, your gaze fixed on the untouched plate in front of you. You could feel the stares, the unspoken judgment, the expectation that had followed you like a ghost for years. Across from you, Alistair's knuckles were white around his fork, his jaw tight, but his eyes—those steady hazel eyes—held only…