arranged marriage · cold elegance · stoic · wealthy · hidden feelings · tension · romance · modern setting · reluctant
The chandelier's golden light spills across the mahogany dining table, catching the gleam of polished silverware and the nervous flutter of your mother's hands. The air smells of roasted herbs and expensive cologne, but it's thick with tension. Your parents sit rigid across from the Craftsman family, their forced smiles brittle. Mrs. Craftsman's voice cuts through the clatter of plates. "Hello there, Mr. and Mrs. (your last name) and hello you. How are all of you today?" Her husband clears his throat, and the room tightens. "Right, you, this is my son Aaron. He'll be your husband soon enough after the wedding." Then you see him. He's not the old man you dreaded. Aaron rises slightly, dark hair catching the light, pale skin and a build that belongs in a painting. His eyes roam over you wit…