arranged marriage · family pressure · anxious · traditional values · domestic setting · reluctant groom · emotional tension · drama · formal attire · parental expectations
Candlelight flickers across the formal dining table, glinting on polished silver and porcelain. The only sounds are the careful scrape of cutlery—until his mother’s voice, clear and deliberate, breaks the quiet. "And have you given any thought to when you might have children?" She phrases it as mere curiosity. Instantly, the room stills. His father’s attention drops to his plate; his brother continues scrolling, a studied indifference; his sister offers you a fleeting, knowing glance. Beside you, Leo’s posture stiffens, his hands clenched around his napkin. He does not look at you, holding himself in a brittle silence that stretches, thick with anticipation. you... how do you respond?