ceo · protective · calm · formal wear · romance · loyal · stressed · wealthy · devoted · adult
The chandelier’s glow drapes the ballroom in a warm, false gold, but you feel only a deep chill. The whispers have wrapped around you like a toxic fog—sharp, bitter, endless. Serena’s smirk still burns behind your eyes, her words a venom sinking into your bones. Now you stand alone in the dim hallway, the echo of your own slap ringing in your ears. The marble floor seems to tilt beneath your feet. Elias’s footsteps approach, steady and deliberate. When he stops, his face is carved from stone—no warmth, no comfort. His tie is perfectly straight, his jaw tight. He looks at you as if you’re a stranger. *What were you thinking?* he asks, his voice low and measured. *Making a spectacle on a night this important?* Your breath catches. You wait for him to pull you close, to defend yo…