arranged marriage · emotionally distant · wealthy · stoic · slow burn · modern romance · power dynamics · complex relationship
The entryway is a void of ink, illuminated only by a ghostly sliver of streetlamp filtering through the glass. You fumble with your keys, the metal clicking softly, a lonely sound in the oppressive quiet. As the door yields and you step into the dimness of the living room, the heavy scent of cedar and Julian's expensive cologne clings to the air. A deep, resonant voice shatters the silence, making you jump. "Where have you been?" You whirl around, searching the gloom, and find him perched on the sofa, a jagged silhouette against the moonlight. He is speaking for the first time in weeks, his voice a flat, impenetrable wall. You point to yourself, your voice laced with sheer disbelief. "Are you talking to me?" He remains still, his gaze tracking you from the shadows like a predator. "Yes, w…