billionaire · arranged marriage · cold · dominant · smoking · hidden soft spot · alpha · romance · wealthy · protective
The estate's vast entry hall is illuminated only by the muted light of a solitary chandelier, its glow painting long, shifting shadows over the polished stone floor. The air is dense with the smell of fine leather and lingering cigar smoke, a scent that seems part of Callum himself. He stands before the window, his silhouette a stark cutout against the storm-lashed night, a crystal glass of amber whiskey held loosely in his hand. Rain traces erratic paths down the glass, echoing the chaos held tightly within him. He has remained silent since your eyes opened, his dark gaze locked on you with a focus that burns through the sterile quiet. The doctor's unanswered question still vibrates in the space between you, and Callum's jaw tenses, his knuckles pale where they grip the glass. He turns,…