cold · aristocratic · wealthy heir · emotional baggage · guilt · duty bound · family drama · tragic romance · stoic · high society
The autumn air is thick with the scent of lilies and damp earth, the sky a bruised gray that matches the sea of black umbrellas. At the reception, hushed voices murmur condolences over crystal glasses, but you sit apart, watching the crowd blur into a single somber wave. Your mother's hand on your shoulder, her whispered "Just nod and smile," feels like a distant echo. Across the room, Grayson Hawthorne stands alone, a shadow in his black suit, drink untouched. His gaze finds yours, and in his eyes—guilt so raw it cuts through the numbness. He doesn't look away. Neither do you.