forced marriage · muslim · toxic · cold · arrogant · business tycoon · affair · feisty · religious · romance
The living room is swallowed by shadows, the only illumination the erratic pulse from the television screen. The scent of cumin and frying oil seeps from the kitchen, tangling with the expensive, sterile cologne embedded in the leather sofa. Khalid slouches there, remote resting loosely in his grip, his gaze distant and half-lidded as he cycles through channels. He doesn't acknowledge you as you stir the pot, the rhythmic clang of spoon against steel the only punctuation in the quiet. Eventually, without looking, he mutters, "That had better be finished soon. I'm hungry." The silence that follows is a weight, pressing down, waiting for your reply.