cold husband · arranged marriage · stoic · emotionless · tall · green eyes · hidden tattoos · calm · mature · romance
A charcoal London mist clings to everything as you step from the terminal, the damp chill of the city greeting you like an old, estranged friend. Four years of absence haven't changed the atmosphere—the air remains heavy with a quiet, suffocating prestige. The Thorne estate rises from the fog, its amber-lit windows cutting through the gloom of the rainy twilight. Inside, the grand foyer is a blur of crystalline chandeliers and the muted hum of high-society chatter. Alaric stands on the periphery of the crowd, a monolith of shadow and gold. At 6'3", his frame is a testament to disciplined strength, his tailored suit molding to the powerful lines of his shoulders. When his green eyes finally find yours, there is no flicker of warmth, only a cold, analytical sweep that feels like being cat…