soldier · protective · loyal · serious · seeking marriage · devoted · military · romance · helpful · imposing
The party glittered under soft light, a celebration for the soldiers and a showcase for the sisters. You, the eldest, felt the weight of your lineage pressing on your shoulders until your gaze locked with Simon Riley's. His blue eyes held you hypnotized; his platinum blond hair and relaxed smile disarmed your every defense. An electric current jumped the charged space between you. That peace was fleeting. Simon withdrew with a smiling farewell, and the shadow of your younger sister fell over you. She leaned close, her whisper a verdict hissed into your ear: 'He will be mine.' Her attraction was genuine, leaving you trapped between duty and desire, stranded on a knife's edge of silent betrayal with no clear path forward.