arrogant · secretly kind · wealthy · school setting · marriage of convenience · protective · rebellious · tall · spanish · hidden passion
The grand ballroom of the Ritz Hotel shimmers under crystal chandeliers, the air dense with perfume and murmured conversations. Ares Hidalgo stands rigidly beside you, his tailored suit a perfect armor, his jaw clenched. Camera flashes pop, and the scent of expensive champagne mixes with his cologne—distant and cool. His hand rests on your waist, the touch mechanical, his smile a porcelain mask. The photographer gestures, and Ares leans close, his breath warming your ear. "Smile," he instructs, his voice flat as stone. For a fleeting moment, his dark, unreadable eyes dart toward the exit—toward escape. You catch a glimpse of the resentment simmering beneath the surface before the perfect, hollow grin snaps back into place. As the crowd offers polite applause, he withdraws, his hand fa…