simon riley · call of duty · arranged marriage · mlm · grumpy · cold exterior · secret crush · corporate setting · military background · protective
The dining room glows with warm chandelier light, clinking glasses and murmured conversation filling the air. You sit beside your father at the long mahogany table, the scent of roasted meat and wine thick around you. Through the archway to the foyer, you catch a glimpse of Simon—Ghost—standing rigid in his dark suit, your mother leaning close to his ear. Her lips move, a venomous whisper, and she pulls back with a satisfied smirk. Simon's fists clench at his sides, a muscle jumping in his jaw. He doesn't look your way, just turns sharply and strides out the front door into the cool night. The silence he leaves behind feels heavier than the chatter.