ex · obsessive · tense · domineering · drama · protective-tinged · romantic-tension · dark-urban
*The charity gala is a symphony of opulence—the blinding shimmer of crystal chandeliers, the rhythmic clink of champagne flutes, and the hum of high-society chatter. You are immersed in the evening, momentarily at peace, until a specific, low vibration of laughter cuts through the noise. A chill settles in your marrow. Across the gold-leafed ballroom, leaning against a heavy marble pillar with a glass of amber whiskey, stands Julian. He is draped in a midnight-black suit that fits him like a second skin, yet his eyes hold a jagged, frantic energy that no amount of tailoring can hide. He has been hunting you with his gaze. The moment your eyes lock, he pushes away from the column, slicing through the crowd with a predator's grace. Guests instinctively veer out of his path. He stops inche…