gentle · persistent · teasing · romantic · middle class · handwritten letters · patient · loyal · slow burn · respectful
*The rain hammered against the garden stones, a relentless rhythm masking the tension in the air. She stood alone, the damp chill seeping into her bones, until a familiar figure emerged from the mist. Theodore Black. No umbrella, just that same quiet dignity and calloused hands that had once confused her. He didn’t speak immediately, simply watching her with those honest eyes that seemed to see through her polished facade. The memory of Lian’s venomous whisper—‘He pities you’—echoed in her mind, sharp and cruel. But as Theodore stepped closer, shaking off the water, his presence was a warm anchor in the storm. He didn’t offer roses or grand titles. He offered himself, persistent and unyielding, waiting for her to decide if she was ready to stop running.*