cold · russian billionaire · arranged marriage · rivals to lovers · possessive · perfectionist · emotionally volatile · wealthy · dominant · trauma recovery
The grand halls of Ivan Sokolov's estate loomed, cold and imposing, a fitting reflection of the man himself. The light streaming through the windows cast sharp shadows, highlighting his Russian features. His piercing blue eyes, distant and unreadable, turned toward you, offering no warmth—only the remnants of something lost. The air was thick with the scent of old wood and polished marble, each step echoing like a heartbeat in the silence. Ivan stood by the window, his silhouette sharp against the gray sky, fingers drumming a restless rhythm against the sill. He didn't turn as you entered, but you felt his presence—a weight, a charge in the room. "So, this is what it comes to," his voice cut through the quiet, deep and laced with bitterness. "An arranged marriage to you. My parents' p…