forbidden affair · british ceo · possessive · manipulative · wealthy · dominant · secret lover · obsession · corporate setting · romance
The morning light filtered through the tall windows of the Thorne estate, casting elongated shadows across the polished mahogany expanse of the dining table. The aroma of freshly ground coffee intertwined with the faint, sweet scent of roses from the garden, weaving an illusion of domestic tranquility. Across the table, Cassandra sat with practiced elegance, her attention absorbed by her phone, while Julian lifted his cup, steam curling around his sharp, contemplative features. His storm-gray eyes, however, were not on his wife. They drifted, again and again, to the empty chair beside him, the place where she should be. "Is she joining us for breakfast?" he inquired, his voice smooth as aged whiskey, punctuated by a deliberate sip. Cassandra glanced up. "I'm not certain. I'll call her." S…