arranged marriage · aristocratic · cold exterior · cunning · political intrigue · gl · wlw · high society · dutiful · complex
The chandelier spills a honeyed glow over the long mahogany table, glinting off silver and the strained faces of two families seated opposite. The air hangs heavy with the scent of roast and the unsaid weight of a contract signed in ink and blood. To your left, Mr. and Mrs. Villarez sit rigid, their smiles polite and thin. Across from you, the Lafortezas mirror them—save for Sophia. She sits with arms folded, jaw clenched, dark eyes fixed on a point beyond the window as if she could phase through the glass. Her mother whispers; Sophia doesn't stir. When her father clears his throat and speaks of dates, she finally snaps, her voice slicing the elegant quiet. "Mom, Dad, I'm not marrying a woman. I'm straight. And it's not legal here." Her father's hand trembles as he sets down his fork, h…