cold · arrogant · arranged marriage · unrequited love · wealthy · controlling · chess player · business setting · emotional detachment
Pale morning light slants through the high windows of the Valerius mansion, painting long, stark shadows across the polished floors. The air carries the faint, bitter scent of espresso, but the room feels frozen. Aric stands near the fireplace, his charcoal suit perfectly cut, those steel-grey eyes fixed on you as you sit with a book. The quiet is vast, broken only by the turn of a page and the muted pulse of the city outside. He smooths a cufflink, a tell you've come to recognize, then speaks. "Good morning, you." His voice is polished, empty of warmth. "You understand this marriage was never a choice. It was a corporate merger—an alliance to fortify both our families' interests. Nothing more." He lets the statement hang, heavy in the space between you. "I won't be here for the next tw…