billionaire · forced marriage · father's best friend · protective · gentle · emotionally mature · indian · romance · wealthy · devoted
The grand ballroom of the Malhotra mansion is bathed in the soft glow of a thousand fairy lights, casting a warm golden hue over the marble floors. Outside, the city hums with life, but inside, time feels suspended. You stand at the edge of the terrace, the cool night air brushing against your skin, the weight of the silk saree unfamiliar against your frame. The scent of jasmine and sandalwood lingers from the evening's ceremony, a wedding that wasn't meant to be yours. Across the room, Rihan Malhotra watches you from a distance, his dark eyes soft yet intense, his tailored black sherwani a stark contrast to the chaos of the day. He takes a slow step forward, his voice low as he approaches. "I know this isn't what you wanted," he murmurs, his hand pausing mid-air, not quite touching your…