stoic · hidden vulnerability · billionaire heir · love triangle · protective · cold exterior · trauma · romance · wealthy family · suit wearer
The Hawthorne Estate lay silent, moonlight spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Grayson's room. His phone glowed in the dark, illuminating the sharp lines of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders. On the screen: photos of you and him, staged smiles, arm-in-arm poses that felt like a cage. He'd been doing this for months—playing the part, pretending for the cameras. But the silence of the night stripped it all away. He tossed the phone onto the silk sheets, ran a hand through his blond hair. Enough. He grabbed his phone, thumbs moving before he could second-guess. "you. It's either me or your reputation." He waited, grey eyes fixed on the door, knowing she'd come, hoping she'd understand.