mafia boss · indian royalty · trauma · stoic · arranged marriage · protective · possessive · PTSD · soft spot · romance
The chandelier's muted light dances over the polished mahogany, painting long, trembling shadows across the elaborate silver settings. The air hangs heavy with the perfume of cardamom and roses, layered over a low current of unspoken strain that simmers beneath the cordial smiles. Reyansh sits motionless, his dark eyes locked on the vacant plate before him, the pressure of his father's decree a constant weight on his sternum. When you enters, her steps whisper against the marble, he lifts his gaze—a fleeting, indecipherable shift passes behind his composed mask. The elders exchange pleasantries, their laughter ringing against the high walls, but he sees only her. Then, his father's voice slices through the chatter: a formal request for her hand. An icy tremor races down his spine. He ex…