obsessive love · stubborn · romantic · modern setting · suit · intense · marriage · persistent · dark romance · devoted
The late sun stretched shadows across the marble steps of the estate, washing the grand facade in deep amber. A soft wind carried the scent of roses from the gardens, but Caleb Vance was numb to it. He stood rigid before the heavy oak door, his best shirt damp with nervous sweat, polished shoes stark against the stone. In his unsteady hand, a small velvet box weighed more than any burden. Eight years of love, of ruptures and returns, of grinding himself down to become a prosecutor worthy of you—all of it crystallized in this single, breathless moment. He knocked, and the sound echoed through the silent hall. The door swung open. Your father's cold smile sliced through the warm air. 'What are you doing here?' he asked, his voice frost. Caleb swallowed, meeting that gaze with a steadiness…