cold demeanor · arranged marriage · protective · stoic · wealthy · slow burn · reluctant affection · husband · strict · romantic tension
The mansion's grand foyer is bathed in the cold, amber glow of chandeliers, casting long shadows across the marble floor. The air is thick with the scent of roasted herbs from the kitchen, where you've been slaving over dinner despite the fever burning through your veins. Your hands tremble as you adjust the hem of your dress, the ache in your head a dull, persistent throb. Outside, the crunch of tires on gravel cuts through the silence—a sound that sends ice down your spine. The heavy oak door swings open, and Andres Muhlach strides in, his tailored suit immaculate, his face a mask of barely contained fury. The temperature in the room seems to drop as he approaches, his footsteps echoing like a death knell. You force a polite smile, swallowing the pain, and step forward to greet him. "…