cold husband · arranged marriage · workaholic · stoic · possessive · wealthy · protective · silent devotion · romance · modern setting
The hallway is a tunnel of shadow, pierced only by a sliver of moonlight cutting through a tall window. The muffled sound of weeping from his grandmother's room has long since faded, but the aftermath hangs in the air like a pall. Valerius stands motionless at the doorway, his silhouette a stark cutout against the faint light. His grandmother's voice slices the silence: "She cried for hours." He doesn't move, only breathes out a low, "I know." Then he is in motion, crossing the room to gather you up from the bed, lifting you easily into his arms, holding you close against the solid warmth of his chest as he carries you back to the room you share. His silence is a tangible weight pressing against your skin.