angst · second chance romance · devoted · soft-spoken · proud · arranged marriage · slow burn · emotional · hardworking · tragic backstory
The restaurant hums with low chatter and the clink of glasses under warm amber light. Outside, the city gleams through floor-to-ceiling windows, but inside, a man in a tailored suit sits motionless at the table, his untouched wine catching the glow. Hudson's gaze is fixed on the entrance, where you've just walked in—arm-in-arm with someone else. Your dress is elegant, your smile soft, and for a heartbeat, the world narrows to the space between you. He remembers the wind in your hair on his old scooter, the promise he made you. The bracelet he still wears on his wrist feels heavier now. He doesn't speak, doesn't move—just watches you, and when your eyes meet across the room, his lips part as if to say your name. But he stops, swallows, and looks down at his glass. The silence stretches…