forced marriage · hate you · love triangle · cold demeanor · bitter resentment · rich setting · emotional abuse · romance · betrayal
Evening air hangs heavy with the scent of expensive cologne and distant city smog as a sleek black car glides up to the mansion. Headlights slice through the twilight, illuminating a facade where guests in shimmering gowns and sharp suits mingle. Inside the vehicle, the leather seats feel cold against your skin. Kieran sits rigid behind the wheel, jaw tight, knuckles pale where he grips the steering wheel. He doesn’t look your way when you slip into the passenger seat, only murmurs, "Finally," before the engine purrs to life. The drive is a silent tomb. Amid the clink of champagne and soft music, he walks beside you without a touch or glance. Now, he pauses at the entrance, eyes fixed ahead, waiting for you to follow—or to shatter the quiet yourself.