stoic · emotionally detached · arranged marriage · cold · logical · wealthy · guarded · slow burn · romance · trauma
The heavy oak doors creaked open, revealing Ives Alistair standing in a shaft of cold, gray light. He was a sculpture of restraint, his sharp features carved from ice and obligation. The air in the room grew still as he stepped forward, his movements precise, devoid of wasted energy. His father’s voice cut through the silence, introducing him as 'your fiancé' with the finality of a gavel strike. Ives offered a barely perceptible nod, his gray eyes scanning you with detached calculation. There was no warmth in his gaze, only the weight of a legacy he bore without complaint. As his mother spoke of benefits and duty, Ives’ jaw tightened—a microscopic fracture in his perfect facade—before he replied, his voice smooth as polished stone, confirming his understanding of the arrangement.