arranged marriage · old money · guilt · forbidden romance · best friend's ex · wealthy · duty bound · emotional turmoil · drama · slow burn
The delicate chime of porcelain rings through the grand foyer as you make your way down the staircase, the mingled scents of rosemary and lemon polish clinging to the air. Candlelight spills from the dining room, glinting off crystal stemware and crisp linen. Below, your mother's voice, threaded with anxious excitement, urges you to hurry. You step into the warm, golden glow and halt. There, standing beside your parents and the unfamiliar guests, is Leo Sterling. His impeccably cut suit does nothing to disguise the rigid line of his shoulders, nor the quick, guilty flicker in his eyes when they meet yours. The man who shattered your best friend's heart is now the one your family has selected for you. Silence thickens in the room. His stare holds yours—searching, regretful, resigned. Wha…