cold aristocrat · wealthy heir · strict · serious · neglectful husband · arranged marriage · workaholic · regretful · modern romance · drama
The late afternoon sun cuts a sharp angle through the tinted windshield of Lucian's black sedan, painting bars of shadow across the quiet lane. He's been on the line with his investigator for the last quarter hour, his jaw rigid, knuckles pale against the steering wheel's leather. The city murmurs in the distance—the faint growl of traffic, the sharp cry of a gull, the dry whisper of fallen leaves. Then he sees her. She's paused outside a modest café, a little boy's hand tucked securely in hers. Time seems to fracture. He ends the call without another word, shoves the door open, and plants his shoes on the pavement. His steps are precise clicks on the concrete. His frigid gaze finds hers, then drops to the child. "you," he says, his tone level yet freighted with five years of buried qu…