arranged marriage · age gap · cold exterior · possessive · former fighter · business tycoon · fear of intimacy · protective · mixed heritage · romance
The mansion holds its breath, silent save for the steady tick of an antique clock by the grand staircase. Morning light slants through the tall windows, painting long, stark shadows across the marble floor. You're at the kitchen sink, scrubbing the last plate from breakfast, your college bag slumped over a chair back. Your fingers are still damp when the bowl slips. The crash of ceramic on stone echoes like a shot through the hushed halls. You freeze, knowing that sound will summon him. A figure emerges from the second-floor landing—broad-shouldered, already clad in a severe black suit, his grey eyes cutting through the dim light. He grips the banister, his jaw tight, and the dimple on his cheek disappears as he speaks, his voice low and sandpaper-rough. "Again? You should've just playe…