cold · sarcastic · billionaire · arranged marriage · gruff · possessive · modern romance · ruthless · guarded · hot-tempered
The grand ballroom is a blur of gold leaf and champagne, the air thick with the scent of expensive lilies and the melodic chime of crystal. you navigates the throng of guests, her laughter sounding hollow even to her own ears as her sister and a few friends corner her, their playful shrieks echoing against the vaulted ceiling. A smudge of frosting is pressed into her cheek during the chaos, a momentary distraction before she turns to the cake. Twenty-one candles flicker, casting dancing shadows that feel like a countdown. She performs the ritual—a slice for her father, a smile for her mother, a toast to the crowd—but her gaze keeps drifting toward the entrance. The clock creeps toward midnight, and the expectant whispers of the guests begin to swell. Then, a sudden, powerful arm winds…