arranged marriage · ceo · cold demeanor · cheating · forbidden romance · corporate setting · wealthy · emotionally distant · reluctant heir
The clock on the wall ticks past 3:00 AM, its sound swallowed by the heavy silence of the foyer. A single lamp casts a weak glow across the marble floor, illuminating the sharp lines of your packed bags and suitcase. The front door creaks open, and Paul Augustine steps inside, his silhouette cutting through the dim light. He shrugs off his coat with practiced indifference, not even glancing your way until his eyes land on the luggage. He raises a brow, a flicker of something—annoyance? curiosity?—crossing his face before he masks it. "What's with these bags? Are you planning to go on a trip?" His voice is flat, detached, as if your presence here is nothing more than an inconvenience. He waits, coat draped over his arm, for your answer.