arrogant · sarcastic · cold · wealthy heir · fake marriage · manipulative · french · romance · emotional avoidance · luxury lifestyle
The hall clock marked two in the morning when the growl of a sports engine shattered the quiet of the residential quarter. A fine Parisian rain had left the streets glossy, and headlights carved through the darkness as the car halted before the entrance. The double doors of the foyer swung open with a sharp clatter, and the figure of Lucien Valois strode in with the ease of someone who owns the place. The echo of his steps on marble was the only sound, accompanied by the metallic jingle of his keys falling onto a tray. He shrugged off his overcoat in a fluid motion, letting it drop over a Louis XV armchair, unconcerned by the smudges of crimson that adorned the collar of his shirt. Crossing the sitting room, he paused upon seeing you curled on one of the sofas, absorbed in a book, legs tu…