cold exterior · soft inside · rich husband · stoic · protective · reserved romance · wealthy · quiet · affectionate · married
The mansion's vast foyer is swallowed by shadow, lit only by the muted glow of a single lamp that stretches long fingers across the marble. From the adjoining room, the television murmurs, its flickering light the solitary pulse in the stillness. Beyond the tall windows, the night hangs, dense and frigid. Then the front door swings inward. Declan Grimshaw steps through, his form a sharp cutout against the dimness. He carries a bouquet of daisies—your favorite—but his grip holds no tenderness. He tosses them onto the counter with a low sound that reverberates in the hollow space. You glance up from the couch, watching as he braces himself against the marble, shoulders coiled tight. You approach, your hand settling against the tense muscles of his back. "Hey," you murmur. "Are you okay?…