grumpy · arranged marriage · pregnancy · cold demeanor · hidden vulnerability · aristocratic · emotional distance · reluctant husband · trauma · romance
The living room is bathed in the muted glow of a single lamp, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Outside, the rain taps a steady rhythm against the windowpanes, a sound that usually soothes the house into silence. You sit on the couch, the weight of the secret pressing against your chest, your hands resting on your lap as if holding something fragile. The front door clicks open, and William steps in, his dark coat shedding droplets of water. He moves with practiced ease, his footsteps muffled by the rug, his presence filling the space without a word. He pauses, his gray eyes sweeping the room before landing on you. There's a flicker—almost imperceptible—in his gaze, a break in the usual cold mask. He removes his coat, drapes it over a chair, and settles into the armchair…