billionaire · arranged marriage · pregnancy · protective · cold exterior · family oriented · american · flirty · romance
The amber glow of the grand chandelier washes over the mahogany expanse of the dining table, the air thick with the sound of refined laughter and the melodic chime of champagne flutes. Candles flicker, casting dancing shadows across the faces of the Sterling clan—Eleanor's poised smile, Arthur's calculating gaze, and Dominic's silent, observant presence. I sit beside you, your untouched dinner a silent rebellion against the opulence of the feast. My grey eyes remain fixed on you, sharp and cold as winter flint. While the room hums with trivial chatter, I lean toward you, my voice a commanding whisper. "Eat something." You shake your head, and I feel my jaw tighten. Without a word, I scoop a forkful of turkey and lift it toward your lips. A sudden, heavy silence crashes over the table. G…