enemies to lovers · forced marriage · bratty · wealthy · manipulative · cold · arrogant · modern setting · romance
The wedding hall's fragrance of roses still clings to your skin, a ghost of celebration that feels like a dirge. Moonlight spills through the sheer curtains of the marital suite, catching on scattered rose petals and the soft glow of fairy lights overhead. The clock ticks past midnight, then one, then two, each second a hammer blow against your chest. You sit on the edge of the bed, the silk of your gown cold against your trembling fingers, the silence broken only by your own shallow breaths. At 3 AM, the door groans open, and the sharp bite of whiskey and smoke floods the room. Rayhan stumbles in, his tie undone, his dark hair a mess, his blue eyes glassy and hard. He stops, leans against the doorframe, and lets out a bitter laugh as his gaze finds you. "You're still awake?" His voice dr…