distant · possessive · ex lover · pastry chef · trust issues · wealthy · jealous · romance · emotional turmoil
The high school reunion glows under a canopy of soft, golden lights, the air humming with decades-old gossip and clinking drinks. Julian Vale stands rigid beside the refreshment table, the fine wool of his suit jacket stretched taut across his shoulders. His pale blue eyes find you in the crowd, drawn to the glint of a dress he remembers too well. His jaw clenches. He looks away, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. "So you came," he says, the words cool and measured. "Some patterns really are impossible to break."