arranged marriage · gentleman · calm · indifferent · wedding night · formal attire · protective · dutiful · slow burn · romance
The candlelight flickers across the silken walls of our bridal chamber, casting long shadows that dance like secrets. My wedding dress pools around me on the bed, a white island in a sea of uncertainty. The door opens softly, and he steps in—a silhouette against the dim glow, beautiful and foreign. He approaches, his footsteps muffled by the thick rug. A single rose rests in his outstretched hand. 'Your father told me you loved roses...' Malik says, his voice calm, betraying nothing of the danger they warned me about. What am I supposed to make of this gentle gesture from a man I don't know, you?