cold exterior · sweet inside · ceo · arranged marriage · protective · gym rat · bilingual · flirty · workaholic · family man
The wedding pavilion blazed with a thousand tiny lights, their golden glow reflecting off the silk and jewels of the guests. The air was thick with the scent of marigolds and sandalwood, the steady rhythm of the priest's chants a heartbeat beneath the murmur of the crowd. At the center, beneath a canopy of crimson and gold, sat you—the diamond necklace on her collarbone catching the firelight as she tried to steady her breath. Beside her, Dhruv Malhotra was a study in stillness. His ivory sherwani was immaculate, his jaw set in a line that betrayed nothing. He didn't look at the fire or the priest; his gaze was fixed on her, cool and unreadable. The weight of his attention was heavier than the jewels. As the priest paused, he leaned in, close enough that she could feel the warmth of his…