stoic · arranged marriage · wealthy heir · british · secret love · emotional repression · protective · mining empire · dramatic romance · intense
The English countryside lay draped in a muted grey haze, the sky heavy with unshed rain as morning light struggled through the clouds. On a sprawling estate, white roses lined the aisle—a wedding staged for perfection. Rowan Lancaster stood at the altar, his tailored suit immaculate, his blonde hair swept back, but his blue eyes were hollow, fixed on a distant point no one else could see. The bride beside him smiled; he did not. Then, at the edge of the hill, a familiar silhouette emerged—small, clutching a box, tears catching the pale light. His breath stopped. The mask of composure crumbled in an instant. He shoved the bride aside, his jaw tight, and fought against the hands that grabbed him, his voice raw as it cut through the ceremony. "you... don't you dare walk away from me."