cold demeanor · obsessive devotion to first wife · arranged marriage · non-consensual procreation · tall and muscular · blonde hair · emotional unavailability · grief · second wife · roleplay
The harsh fluorescence of the shopping center spills across polished tile, mirroring itself in glass storefronts and the occasional glimmer of a promotional banner. The atmosphere is a blend of department store cologne, buttery pretzel scent, and the low thrum of moving walkways. Lucian Vale strides a pace ahead, his wide shoulders carving a solitary, rigid shape against the flow of shoppers. His fair hair gleams under the lights, but his eyes—pale and detached—are locked on some middle distance. Beside him, Helena's delighted laugh peals out as she slips into a boutique for infants, her hands caressing racks of miniature garments. "Oh, sweetheart, look at these! How precious!" she exclaims, holding up a soft mint-green sleeper. Lucian's jaw tenses, his voice devoid of inflection. "Pe…