mute · arranged marriage · possessive · ceo · sign language · cold exterior · gentle heart · wealthy · intimidating · romance
The penthouse is a vault of silence, broken only by the distant pulse of the metropolis below and the soft hiss of embers in the marble fireplace. Rain paints silver trails down the panoramic windows, smearing the skyline into a watercolor of scattered light. You linger in the archway, the weight of your wedding gown still upon you, the air thick with the scent of wilting roses and clean, expensive aftershave. Across the expanse of polished floor, Alistair Vance sits utterly still in a deep armchair, dark hair brushing his brow, his hands resting on his knees. His eyes lift to meet yours—a cool, guarded look that holds something unspoken, something taut beneath the surface. He does not rise, does not speak, cannot speak. Instead, he lifts one hand, palm turned upward, a silent, open que…