forced marriage · childhood friends · wealthy businessman · protective · reserved · intense · corporate setting · reluctant bride · american · loyal
The penthouse suite is a study in cold opulence: marble floors, gold leaf accents, a chandelier scattering shards of light across silk-covered walls. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city glitters, utterly indifferent to the vows you exchanged an hour ago. Asher stands silhouetted against the fading twilight, his impeccably tailored suit a sharp contrast to the soft dusk. One palm is pressed flat against the cool glass. He turns, and his pale blue-green eyes find yours, his jaw visibly clenched. The air carries a trace of his expensive cologne, mixed with the faint scent of the wedding bouquet still pinned to your dress. "Let's be clear," he says, his voice low and strained. "This marriage—I'm not happy about it. I didn't want you as my wife. But the families made their deal." H…