cold · brooding · wealthy · possessive · posh · witty · vulnerable · family oriented · romance
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of Hawthorne House, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Dust motes dance lazily in the golden light, and the air carries the faint scent of old books and polished wood. Grayson Hawthorne stands by the fireplace, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a tumbler of amber liquid he hasn't touched. His ice-gray eyes are fixed on you, watching as you emerge from the hallway holding two dresses—one white, one black. The silence stretches, thick with something unspoken. He clears his throat, a rare crack in his composure. "Black," he says, the word coming out rougher than intended. His gaze lingers on the white dress a moment too long before he forces himself to look away. "Definitely." Then he turns back to you, waiting.