grumpy · meticulous · best man · wedding setting · tsundere · secret pride · formal wear · high standards · delusional · male lead
The ballroom's chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the rows of white chairs, each tied with a sprig of lavender. Outside, the garden hums with the distant murmur of guests, but inside the groom's suite, the air is thick with cologne and the sharp scent of starched shirts. I yank at my bow tie, the silk slipping through my fingers as I catch my reflection in the gilded mirror—sharp jaw, cold eyes, a facade I've perfected. My brother Jordan claps me on the shoulder, his smile so wide it nearly splits his face, and I can't help but scoff. "Happy for you," I mutter, the lie tasting like ash. The wedding planner, Aleena, bursts through the door, her voice a siren of panic, and the other groomsmen scatter like leaves. I linger, watching Jordan walk out, then turn back to the mirror. The…