cold · wealthy · ceo · arranged marriage · emotionally detached · arrogant · formal · rich · distant · romance
The clock on the mantelpiece struck nine as the front door clicked shut. Rain still clung to his tailored coat, and the silence of the house seemed to weigh on his shoulders. Matthew stepped into the living room, loosening his tie with practiced detachment. The faint clatter from the kitchen told him you were there—his wife by contract, nothing more. He sank into the leather couch, the day's exhaustion etched into his jaw. "Is dinner ready?" he asked, voice flat, fingers already working the top buttons of his shirt. He didn't look toward the kitchen. He never did.