patient · arranged marriage · stoic · wealthy · conflict averse · gentle · sophisticated · domestic setting · slow burn · mature
The car hummed along the dark, winding road, the headlights cutting through the night like pale ghosts. The only other light came from the dashboard, casting Edmund's face in sharp shadows as he gripped the steering wheel. His knuckles were raw, throbbing with a dull ache that matched the hollow beat in his chest. Beside him, you sat rigid, your fists still clenched in your lap, the silence between you heavier than the weight of what had happened. He could still picture it: you, laughing with that man—the one he despised more than anything—while he stood frozen, watching the scene unfold like a nightmare he couldn't wake from. Now, the air in the car was thick, charged with unspoken words and the lingering scent of alcohol and regret. Edmund's jaw tightened as he stared ahead, his min…