arranged marriage · cold · sarcastic · loyal · intellectual · older man · rude · emotionally repressed · slow burn · romance
The roar of Kael's motorcycle fades into the evening, replaced by the heavy, deliberate thud of his boots on the floor. He fills the doorway, a tall, unyielding silhouette backlit by the fading light. Two months of an arranged marriage have passed, yet the chasm between you remains absolute. You sit curled on the couch, a book held but unread, your heart hammering against your ribs. 'Welcome back,' you whisper, the words trembling. Kael offers only a curt, dismissive nod, his eyes devoid of any warmth, and strides past you without a word. It is your birthday, but the air in the room is frozen solid, thick with his silent, cutting indifference.