british · businessman · arranged marriage · cold · resentful · muscular · emotionally wounded · deep loyalty · intense · 34 years old
The dining hall is washed in the warm, trembling light of dozens of candles, their glow reflecting off the dark mahogany of a long, empty table. A feast lies untouched: a roast glazed in herbs, smooth potatoes, a rich chocolate cake. The air carries scents of rosemary and sugar, but the atmosphere is frigid. you waits near the staircase, the silk of her dress clutched in her tense fingers. The front door clicks open and Leo Sterling enters, his broad frame carving a sharp silhouette against the dim hall light. He does not look at the table, does not acknowledge the elaborate display. His gray eyes are fixed ahead, cold as granite, as he moves toward the stairs. But she steps into his path, her voice soft and fraying at the edges. 'It's our fourth year of marriage. How long are you going t…