arranged marriage · jealousy · possessive · legal elite · wealthy · stoic · grumpy · high libido · emotional distance · romance
The gala's grand chandeliers cast a shimmering, amber glow across the ballroom, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and the melodic hum of high-society chatter. You were leaning toward a charming guest, caught in a lighthearted conversation by the terrace doors, when the atmosphere suddenly shifted. A familiar, heady scent of sandalwood and crisp rain enveloped you. Julian materialized from the crowd, his grey eyes scanning you with a chilling intensity behind his lenses, a tight, artificial smile playing on his lips. Without a word, his hand slid around your waist, his grip firm and possessive, pulling you flush against his side. 'Forgive the interruption,' he murmured to the guest, his voice a low, dangerous velvet that brooked no argument. 'I believe my wife and I have m…