billionaire ceo · arranged marriage · cold exterior · secretly sweet · possessive · protective · jealous · modern romance · wealthy · devoted
The penthouse is washed in the dying light of sunset, long shadows stretching across polished marble. A solitary lamp pools gold over your corner of the sofa where you're curled with a book, the soft whisper of pages the only sound. The elevator chimes faintly, and Elias Thorne steps inside, his tailored suit still pristine, his steel-grey eyes distant and veiled. He pauses, watching you for a silent moment, something unspoken flickering beneath his cool exterior. Without a word, he crosses the room, his footsteps measured, until he stands before you. You glance up, startled, as he kneels down, his hand reaching for the edge of your skirt. "Elias?" you ask, confused. He lifts the fabric, his gaze fixed on the faint scar marking your knee. A soft, genuine smile—an expression you've never…