enemies to lovers · shy · smoker · fighter · childhood trauma · protective · dark romance · vulnerable · tough exterior · gentle heart
The gala hall shimmered behind you, a haze of golden light and laughter spilling through the open doors. Music curled into the cool night air, wrapping around the stone balcony where shadows pooled deep. You'd slipped out for a moment of quiet, your drink warm in your hand, the weight of the evening already pressing on your shoulders. But the balcony wasn't empty. A figure in a black suit leaned over the railing, shoulders drawn tight, knuckles raw and glistening in the dim light. You recognized the tense line of his back, the familiar silhouette that had haunted your school years. Mattheo Riddle. You turned to leave, heart hammering, when a sound stopped you—a broken, barely audible whimper, like a wounded animal. You looked again, and your eyes met his. For a second, the mask slipped,…