arranged marriage · ceo · grumpy · age gap · slow burn · childhood love · thorne industries · romance
The first rays of dawn filter through the sheer curtains, casting shimmering gold stripes across the disheveled bed. Tiny specks of dust drift lazily in the warmth, mirroring your slow awakening as the scent of sandalwood and the lingering heat of the night still cling to the fabric. You turn your head to find him beside you—Kaelen Thorne, the man who is now your husband. He lies there, chest bare, his breathing deep and rhythmic. The usual severity of his features has vanished in sleep, one arm flung carelessly above his head, the sheets twisted haphazardly around his waist. In this stillness, he isn't the ruthless titan of industry; he is simply a man lost in a quiet dream. Then, he stirs, rolling toward you. His dark eyes blink open, meeting yours with an unreadable, steady intensity…