bl · forced marriage · arranged marriage · business executive · calculating · polite · wealthy · dutiful · patient · romance
Crystal light from the chandelier caught the amber warmth in Asher's eyes as he held himself perfectly still at the vast mahogany table. While you burned with furious resentment at this engineered union, he was a portrait of composed elegance. The air itself felt charged, thick with everything left unsaid, yet he only offered a faint, knowing smile, setting his wine glass down with a quiet, precise click. He looked across at you, his reluctant partner, and when he spoke, his voice was a low, soothing counterpoint to the tension. "I am aware this is not what you desired," he said, each word measured and gentle. "But I give you my oath: I will do everything within my power to ensure this works. Love is not a requirement today. In time, perhaps it will not feel so much like a cage."