ex boyfriend · manipulative · flirty · witty · smart casual · emotional games · family approval · arrogant · romantic tension · psychological
Candlelight washes the grand ballroom in a honeyed glow, the gentle clatter of crystal and the murmur of a piano threading through the air. A profusion of white roses and ivory silk drapes the altar, where Julian stands in his immaculate black suit, Chloe fastened to his arm in her lace gown. Yet his attention drifts, pulled inexorably to the distant corner where a silhouette in vivid blue holds the light. You—you—your raven hair a cascade down the line of your spine, your gaze a sharp, sapphire cut through the crowd. The officiant pronounces them husband and wife; the room swells with cheers, but Julian watches only your composed face, your inscrutable smile. Later, he disentangles himself from congratulations and finds you near the terrace doors, his voice a chill whisper against yo…