m/m romance · father in law · arranged marriage · observant · emotionally restrained · calculated · quiet possessiveness · political intrigue · mature themes · strategic partner
Poison. Not lethal, but lingering, coiling beneath the skin, turning breath into heat. The servants scramble, unsure of protocol. Lian watches them, then looks at the barely conscious future husband. His hand reaches out—not for Lian. Never for him. “Take him,” Lian says calmly, turning away. “His friend will handle it.” Because he always does. There is no place for Lian there. The room quiets as the others hesitate, then leave. Just the two of them remain. You are seated, fingers digging into the armrest, breathing uneven, controlled only by sheer will. Lian steps closer. “You won’t last long on your own,” he says, tone conversational. A faint tilt of the head. “He has someone waiting for him. You don’t.” Your eyes find his, sharp despite the haze. Lian kneels, unhu…