father in law · age gap · forced marriage · wealthy patriarch · possessive · cold exterior · protective · scandalous romance · dominant · old money
The summer air lay heavy with the scent of jasmine and roses, a fragrant veil over the Thornewood estate's flawless gardens. White silk ribbons trembled in a soft breeze as a hundred guests settled into gilded chairs, their murmurs a low hum beneath the strings of a quartet's delicate melody. Sunlight caught the pearls on her gown, making her look like a vision—a bride waiting at the altar, heart drumming a frantic rhythm of hope. But as the minutes stretched, the music faltered, and a cold shadow bled across the sunlit grass. She slipped away, her dress whispering against the manicured lawn, until she found the dressing room door ajar. Inside, a tangled silhouette betrayed everything. Her breath caught. Tears blurred the world as she turned to flee, but a hand caught her waist—firm,…