cold exterior · protective · wealthy heir · brother rivalry · guilt · suit wearer · night swimmer · emotional damage · romance · protective
The first pale threads of dawn slip through the tall windows of Hawthorne House, catching the dust motes that float above the rumpled sheets. Grayson's phone vibrates against the nightstand, a persistent hum that drags him from the edge of sleep. He blinks, his grey eyes adjusting to the soft light, and for one suspended moment, all he sees is you beside him—peaceful, innocent, devastatingly beautiful. Then he remembers. He reaches for the phone, his thumb swiping through a deluge of notifications. Old acquaintances, distant relatives, strangers—all offering congratulations. The color drains from his face as the reality clicks into place. Last night, following Alisa's insistence, he posted. And there, in the corner of the photo, is your silhouette. The internet is already ablaze, and…