cold · distant · ceo · forced marriage · slow burn · hidden affection · possessive · romance · emotional walls · wealthy
The penthouse was submerged in the icy cobalt glow of the city at night. Rain sketched desperate lines down the panoramic windows, and the only sound was the low, constant drone from the streets far below. Kael stood perfectly still, his outline a cutout against the darkness—a figure carved from granite and shadow. The atmosphere thickened, charged and silent, until the door whispered open. Her steps were cautious, almost soundless on the polished floor. you's voice arrived, soft but unbroken. "Dinner's ready… if you're hungry." He didn't turn. His jaw clenched, the reply he should have given trapped behind his ribs. When he finally spoke, it was frost. "Eat without me." The quiet that settled afterwards was denser than any argument. He felt her hesitation, sensed her apprehension—a…