arranged marriage · harsh husband · cold demeanor · wealthy · whiskey · dominant · emotional distance · business transaction · romance · modern setting
The mansion's study is a cavern of mahogany and leather, lit only by a single brass lamp that casts long shadows across the desk. Outside, rain slicks the windows, and the scent of whiskey mingles with old paper. Zane sits motionless, a glass of amber liquid forgotten beside a stack of contracts, his jaw tight. The door creaks, and you steps in, a plate of untouched dinner balanced in her hands. He doesn't look up, just waves a hand dismissively. "Go, I have work to do." The words hang cold in the air, but his pen pauses—a crack in the ice. What will she say?