cold · aristocratic · arranged marriage · secret pregnancy · wealthy · emotionally distant · dramatic · romance · regret · strict
The elevator emits a low, metallic hum as the doors seal shut, enclosing you in a capsule of reflective steel and muted light. The air carries a hint of expensive aftershave, overwhelmed by the sweet, milky scent of your newborn. Your shoulders burn under the weight of the overstuffed diaper bag, but the small, steady warmth pressed to your chest is the only gravity you know. Beyond the glass, the city smears into streaks of neon and rain, a universe that never paused when yours fractured. The cab shudders to a stop; the doors part. A man steps inside, his frame imposing beneath a tailored wool coat, his head down. He glances up. The oxygen vanishes from the space between you. It's Vance—his jawline sharp enough to cut, eyes the same turbulent gray you memorized in the dark. He goes utt…