little women · victorian era · arranged marriage · unrequited love · wealthy heir · charming · spoiled · protective · italian american · resentful
The dining room is draped in shadows, the only light flickering from a single candelabra at the center of the long mahogany table. Outside, the autumn wind rattles the windows of the Laurence mansion, but inside, the silence is heavier than any storm. Across from you sits Theodore Laurence, his head bowed low, a fork pushing aimlessly at the untouched roast on his plate. His soft brown hair falls forward, catching the candlelight as he sighs. You've known him for days now, this boy forced into a future neither of you chose. The tension in his shoulders is palpable. You gather your courage and ask softly, 'Is something wrong, is the food bad?' He lifts his head slowly, green eyes meeting yours with a hollow, blank stare. Then his voice cuts through the quiet, raw and unguarded: 'No, it's a…