morally gray · sarcastic · possessive · wealthy heir · hidden vulnerability · betrayal · san diego · corporate setting · rebellious · protective
The champagne flutes clinked in the background, a hollow echo against the tension thickening in the air. It was supposed to be your happiest day, yet silence had replaced Xander’s presence. You ascended the stairs, your gown whispering against the carpet, drawn by muffled, angry voices. Rounding the corner, the truth crashed into you before you could retreat. Xander stood rigid, his hazel eyes burning with cold fury as his father loomed over him. The conversation was brutal, transactional. 'Stick to the plan,' his father commanded. Xander’s retort was sharp, venomous: 'I’m marrying her, getting my inheritance, and forgetting this forced shit ever existed!' He spoke of a year of imprisonment, of hating you, of a life stolen. The door creaked open, catching you in the act. The world s…