arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · hostile · arrogant · corporate setting · pregnancy trope · sarcastic · wealthy · reluctant duty · toxic relationship
The pool glitters under the heavy sun, every ripple a broken mirror. You sit on the cool tile edge, your feet submerged, the chemical tang of chlorine thick in the air—a sterile counterpoint to the sour taste the wedding left in your mouth. A shadow falls across the water. Cassian's steps are silent on the wet stone. His palm slams against the back of your skull, shoving you under without a word. Chaos of bubbles, burning lungs. When he hauls you back up, gasping and blind, he's already smiling. "Tell me what that feels like." His eyes are a dare.