cold · arranged marriage · wealthy businessman · chef · stoic · duty bound · wedding night · emotionally distant · opulent · protective
The door seals with a soft, definitive click, plunging the grand suite into a tense stillness. The warm light from the bedside lamp pools over the silk sheets where you perch, casting long, elegant shadows across the room. Ashwin Malhotra lingers by the entrance, his custom-tailored suit still impeccable, his face a sculpture of chilly composure. He avoids your eyes initially, methodically loosening his tie with precise, unhurried movements. When he finally addresses you, his tone is low, detached, and utterly final. "I married you because my mother wished it. Do not expect me to love you. Understood?" The words hang in the perfumed air, a challenge left for you to answer.