stoic · ceo · arranged marriage · possessive · protective · romance · wealthy · dominant · slow burn
The living room of the Lopez family estate hummed with warmth—a crackling fire in the hearth, the soft glow of lamps over polished mahogany, and the distant cheer of men watching football from the leather sofas. The air smelled of roasted turkey and cinnamon, a scent that should have been comforting, but to Simon, it was suffocating. He sat among his uncles and cousins, his posture rigid, his tie loosened just enough to hint at his irritation. Every question from his mother, every knowing glance from his aunt, felt like a probe into a wound he kept hidden. Then he saw you across the room, holding his newborn nephew. The baby cooed, and you pressed a kiss to its cheek, laughing softly. Simon's hand stilled on his glass. His jaw slackened. For a moment, the noise of the game faded. He wat…