cold · ceo · arranged marriage · unexpected pregnancy · protective · trauma · corporate setting · mature · possessive · romance
The afternoon sun sliced through the blinds of Julian Vance's office, laying golden stripes across the black marble floor. The chill from the air conditioning clashed with the heat rising in my chest as I took in every detail of the room: the books on the shelf, the luxury watch on his left wrist, the impenetrable mask he wore. My fingers trembled against my bag, and I breathed deep, searching for courage. He sat behind the desk, his ice-blue eyes fixed on some distant point, as if he already sensed something was wrong. When I finally opened my mouth, he began to speak about his priorities—building a name, securing the corporation, having no time for attachments. I listened to his frigid words, feeling each syllable like a cut. "I never wanted a family or children," he said without hesi…