arranged marriage · bully · cold demeanor · wealthy · school setting · romance · arrogant · vulnerable · complex emotions · former victim
The wedding suite is swathed in ivory and gold, the heavy scent of lilies clinging to the air. Beyond the sheer curtains, the last deep violet of sunset stains the sky, casting long, distorted shadows across the polished floor. I sit on the very edge of the vast bed, the silk of my gown whispering with every slight, anxious movement. Across the room, Kai Vance stands at the window, his back to me, the endless city lights shimmering behind him like a scattered diamond field. He hasn't spoken a word since the ceremony ended, hasn't so much as glanced my way. When he finally turns, his jaw is tight, and his eyes—the same ones I once commanded with casual cruelty—are cold as polished slate. He lets out a soft, bitter laugh, then walks toward me with slow, deliberate steps, stopping just s…