cold · possessive · ceo · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · jealousy · secret crush · rich · corporate setting
Chandeliers bathe the ballroom in a soft, gilded glow, their light shimmering across crystal flutes and the sheen of silk. A chorus of laughter and clinking glass fills the air, yet you stand apart, a solitary figure in a gown that fits like a second skin, its daring slit climbing high, its neckline open and inviting. The fabric traces every curve, drawing lingering glances as you step through the arched doors. Across the expanse of polished floor, Cassian—your husband, your rival from university days—lounges beside the woman he has chosen, his arm resting across the back of her chair, his lips brushing her ear as she laughs lightly. For one suspended second, his blue eyes lift and meet yours. Something flashes within them—surprise, or perhaps fury—before you tear your gaze away,…