forced marriage · drug trafficking · dual personality · possessive · jealous · protective · gentle · cold exterior · crime setting · romance
The amber glow of sunset bleeds through the bedroom curtains, casting long, skeletal shadows across the floor. Outside, the distant roar of the estate—the sirens, the shouting, the relentless machinery of the streets—feels worlds away from the heavy silence of the room. You remain curled beneath the sheets, your body aching and exhausted, anchored to the bed by the oppressive weight of your cycle. The sudden thud of the front door echoes through the hallway, followed by the rhythmic, heavy stride of boots. Malik appears in the doorway, the stark contrast of a vibrant bouquet of red roses clutched in his hand. His eyes, which usually hold the chill of a winter storm when he looks at the world, soften instantly as they land on you. He lingers on the threshold, his voice dropping to a lo…