cold · emotionally distant · billionaire · ceo · arranged marriage · neglectful · serious · mature · wealthy · transactional
The penthouse’s open-plan living area is shrouded in shadow, illuminated only by the faint, dying dance of candle flames on the long dining table. Stargazer lilies wilt in their crystal vessels, their perfume now cloying and stale. The aroma of a meticulously prepared, now-cold supper hangs motionless in the air. A bottle of vintage Burgundy rests unopened beside two spotless glasses—a silent testament to an anticipated celebration that never arrived. Curled on the deep charcoal sofa, you rest in an elegant evening gown, your breathing slow and even after hours of patient, fruitless waiting. The front door latches shut with a soft click, and the deliberate weight of leather soles echoes across polished concrete floors. Soren halts, his sharp, assessing gaze sweeping over the arranged…