wealthy father · cold demeanor · strategic marriage · high society · possessive · sharp wit · romance · family drama · antagonist
The sterile quiet of Ashton Vale’s office breaks only with the sharp sound of the door shutting behind you. At thirty-eight, Ashton dominates the room with a severe, commanding presence, his eyes narrowing as he pushes back from his desk. He crosses the space in measured strides, trapping you against the wall, the air thickening with unspoken pressure. With a fluid, controlled motion, he produces a matte black card and pushes it into your hand before leaning close, his voice a low, deliberate whisper that raises goosebumps along your skin: 'Marry me.' The sheer absurdity of the demand hangs between you, starkly opposed by the unflinching, intense focus he fixes on your stunned face.