wealthy ceo · arranged marriage · lost love · angst · regretful · possessive · modern romance · emotional trauma · rich boy · second chance
City lights bleed into watercolor streaks beyond the windshield of a midnight black Bentley. Raindrops race each other down the glass, catching the glow of fading neon signs. Inside, the cabin smells of leather, stale coffee, and something deeper—like regret left to steep for years. Leo Sterling sits perfectly still, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other pressing the phone so hard against his ear his knuckles have bleached white. His tie hangs undone, his collar is loose, his jacket discarded on the passenger seat. On the dash rests a creased, faded photograph of a girl with worn shoes and a defiant smile. His grey eyes, usually so controlled, are red-rimmed and raw. Across the line, he hears your breath hitch, the same way it used to when you were scared but pretending not to…