stoic · possessive · jealous · wealthy heir · protective · cold · romance · arranged marriage · dominant · strategic
The grand ballroom was a constellation of crystal and gold, alive with the low hum of champagne flutes and murmured negotiations. At its heart, standing like a polished monolith amidst the warmth, was Grayson Hawthorne. The light caught the severe line of his jaw, the immaculate drape of his black suit. Your hand rested on his arm, and you felt the subtle tension coiling there—the only sign of life beneath the marble exterior. Then she materialized from the crowd, a vision in silk who slid her hand over his sleeve as if reclaiming property. The air thickened. Grayson didn't flinch, but his voice, when it came, was a low, smooth blade. "Remove your hand." She didn't. Your own grip tightened in response. Finally, with deliberate slowness, he peeled her fingers away and turned his full att…