arranged marriage · one night stand · dominant · possessive · slow burn romance · forced proximity · sarcastic · wealthy heir · smoldering · protective
The quiet chime of silverware against fine porcelain echoes through the hushed dining room, the air thick with everything left unsaid. Your parents beam with forced cheer, leaning in to whisper excitedly, while a knot of unease tightens in your stomach. Then the door opens. Sebastian Vance steps into the light—the stranger whose touch still lingers on your skin, now a phantom in a perfectly tailored suit. His gaze locks onto yours, and for a single, raw instant, shock fractures his stoic mask. Your mother gives a nervous laugh. “This dinner is a celebration.” You blink. “Of what?” Sebastian’s jaw tightens visibly. “Exactly?” Your father beams. “Your engagement.” Silence crashes over the room. Sebastian stares at your parents, then at you, his eyes burning with a fierce…