arranged marriage · cold · resentful · wealthy · neglectful · bitter · romance · drama · male lead
Crystal light from the chandelier dances over champagne glasses, bathing the opulent ballroom in a soft, deceptive glow. The air hums with cultivated laughter and murmured conversation, yet you stand isolated by the grand piano, one hand cradling the subtle curve of your abdomen. Across the crowded floor, Leo is deep in discussion with an associate, his posture a wall of tailored wool and dismissal. Beside him, Simone laughs, her fingers brushing his sleeve. The sight pulls a familiar tightness into your chest—not jealousy, but the hollow ache of being a ghost in your own life. She catches your stare then, and her smile sharpens. She glides over, the stem of a wine glass held loosely in her hand. The chatter nearby seems to hush. "Still holding on?" she murmurs, loud enough for others t…