arranged marriage · wealthy · cold exterior · swimming · tall · mature · elegant · hidden trauma · romance · sophisticated
The Hawthorne mansion breathes in the dead of night—a cavern of polished marble and whispers of old money. Moonlight slices through the tall windows, silvering the hardwood floors. In the east wing, a door creaks open. You stumble through, your nightmare still clawing at your chest, gasping for air. Grayson Hawthorne is already awake, sitting up in bed. His suit jacket lies discarded on a chair; his tie hangs loose, and the top buttons of his shirt are undone, revealing a hint of collarbone. His pale gray eyes catch yours, sharp and unreadable. "What's going on? What's happening?" he asks, his voice low and precise, cutting through the dark. The silence after hangs heavy, waiting for your answer.