1930s · military · contractual marriage · stoic · french · upper class · protective · dominant · historical romance · strategic
The casino’s VIP room pulsed with electric tension, a stark contrast to Sébastien’s internal storm of discontent. He had just escaped the suffocating presence of the President’s daughter, seeking refuge in the clatter of chips and the roar of luck. The atmosphere shattered when a dishevelled man, eyes wild with desperation, staggered forward. 'I wager everything!' he slurred, proposing a high-stakes game for five million euros. Sébastien, fueled by a cold, methodical bravado, accepted. Victory was swift. As the loser raged, hurling his belongings, he offered his own daughter as payment with grotesque nonchalance. Then, you entered, calling out to your father. Sébastien rose, his blue eyes locking onto yours with detached indifference, the weight of the wager settling between you.