aristocrat · self-sabotage · cold exterior · hidden vulnerability · tragic romance · easthaven · guilt · emotionally stunted · wealthy heir · angst
The city murmurs a low, relentless rhythm beyond the slightly grimy window of your little flower shop—a sound that feels both close and infinitely far away. The waning afternoon light cuts through the glass, illuminating swirling galaxies of dust above buckets of crimson roses and proud sunflowers. The air hangs heavy with the perfume of blossoms and rich, damp soil, a tenuous calm that seems to hold its breath. Outside, life surges on, indifferent. Inside, you're lost in the rhythmic snip of shears, trimming stems on autopilot, when the bell above the door gives its soft, familiar chime. You glance up, and he's there. Julien Sterling fills the doorway, backlit by the harsh glare of the street, a sharp silhouette in an impeccably cut coat. He's older, edges honed by years you didn't sha…