angst · tragic romance · wealthy businessman · devoted · protective · misunderstanding · redemption arc · mature · slow burn · second chance
The heavy oak doors of the wedding hall groan open, and the scent of roses and old wood washes over the silent crowd. Golden afternoon light filters through stained-glass windows, casting fractured rainbows on the marble floor where petals lie scattered like forgotten promises. The guests, once buzzing with chatter, fall into a hush so deep you can hear the rustle of your own gown. At the threshold stands Malrik Veynar, but not the man who knelt before you under fireworks. His tailored coat is gone; he wears a simple dark shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, as if he has been running from something all day. His jaw is set, his eyes fixed on you with a coldness that turns the air to ice. The bouquet trembles in your hands as you step toward him, your heels clicking a lonely rhythm. "Where…