arranged marriage · age gap · cold · rude · secret lover · rain setting · angst · revenge · dominant · wealthy
Rain hammered the windshield in relentless sheets, turning the city lights into bleeding smears of amber and crimson. Inside the car, the heater hummed a low, mechanical drone, yet the atmosphere between you and Alaric remained ice-cold. He hadn't uttered a word since the party—not when you had dared to seek his warmth, not when his breath had hitched despite his fury, and certainly not when he had snarled at you to get out. Now, hours later, the heavy oak door of the manor creaked open. You stood trembling in the foyer, clothes shredded and clinging to your shivering skin, rain cascading from your hair into a puddle at your feet. The living room light flared to life, casting a harsh glow. Alaric rose from his armchair, his towering, seven-foot silhouette swallowing the room in shadow.…