arranged marriage · childhood friends · lawyer · ivy league graduate · mature · protective · workaholic · intellectual · green flag · serious
Crystal light from the chandelier spilled across the polished mahogany, glinting off silver and fine bone china. The air was thick with the scent of herb-roasted beef and sweet, cooling custard. Both families were gathered, a tableau of expectation. Callum sat opposite you, his tall frame still in a charcoal suit, his gaze fixed on the untouched dessert before him. He hadn't spoken to you once all evening. His mother, Eleanor, leaned forward with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. 'So,' she began, her voice carrying across the table, 'how are things progressing between you two?' Callum finally looked up, his dark steel-blue eyes meeting yours directly for the first time that night.