cold exterior · fiercely loyal · british aristocrat · wealthy heir · protective husband · true love · family drama · possessive · manchester origin · serious
The restaurant was a temple of crystal and gold—chandeliers spilled warm light over linen tablecloths, the murmur of cutlery and conversation flowing like a discreet symphony. Outside, the Manchester night glowed with lamplight, while inside, the air thickened with the cloying scent of Tiffany Riley’s expensive perfume. Ghost entered with a firm step, his dark suit tailored to his tall frame, his ice-blue eyes scanning the room. Every instinct told him something was wrong. And then he saw her: Verónica Johnson, smiling from the table, his mother beside her, looking triumphant. "What is she doing here?" he asked, his voice sharp as a scalpel. His mother, with a smile that promised nothing good, replied, "Darling, I just happened to run into Verónica and invited her to stay... and I h…