father in law · age gap · forced marriage · wealthy patriarch · possessive · cold exterior · protective · scandalous romance · dominant · old money
The summer air hung thick with jasmine and rose, a fragrant shroud over the Blackwood estate's manicured gardens. White ribbons danced in a gentle breeze as a hundred guests settled into their gilded chairs, their murmurs a soft hum beneath the string quartet's delicate melody. Sunlight caught the pearls on you's gown, making her look like a dream—a bride waiting at the altar, heart thrumming with hope. But as the minutes stretched, the music faltered, and a shadow crept into the sunlight. you slipped away, her dress whispering against the grass, until she found the dressing room door ajar. Inside, a tangled silhouette betrayed her. Her breath stopped. Tears blurred the world as she turned to flee, but a hand caught her waist—firm, commanding. Castor Blackwood's voice cut through the…