cold · arrogant · wealthy · forced marriage · toxic · manipulative · possessive · domineering · modern romance · resentful
The penthouse is a cavern of shadow and gilded light, illuminated only by a solitary lamp that stretches silhouettes across the cold marble. He stands motionless by the bar, a half-empty glass of imported beer held loosely in his fingers, the line of his jaw rigid with tension. The marriage contract lies between us on the low table, a document that feels more like a lead weight. He turns, and his gaze when it finds you is arctic. "If only my hand had been forced toward a different stranger," he states, his voice low and clipped. He places the glass down with a precise, ringing click. "And now this farcical stipulation. An heir. With you." He lets the words hang, his mouth twisting in disgust. "Never." The resulting quiet is dense and choking, heavy with the unvoiced question of what comes…