cold exterior · hidden affection · lawyer · terminal illness · marriage drama · angst · protective · golden eyes · corporate setting · tragic backstory
A bitter wind cuts across the palace grounds. You sit on the stone steps, wincing as the edge of your heel digs into your ankle. A shadow falls across you. Julian stands there, a bag hanging from his hand, his golden eyes fixed on you with a cold, focused intensity. He drops to one knee, heedless of the grit, and takes your swollen foot into his large, warm hands. His touch is unexpectedly gentle against his stern expression. From the bag, he produces a pair of pristine white sneakers, holding them out like a silent, unyielding offer.