arranged marriage · cold CEO · workaholic · possessive · secretly clingy · dominant · wealthy · slow burn · jealous · corporate setting
The grand ballroom has emptied, the final notes of music swallowed by silence as the last wedding guests depart. The warm glow of crystal chandeliers spills across the marble floors, illuminating the last two figures seated at a corner table. Luca Valerio sits across from you, a glass of dark rum cradled in his hand, his honey-colored eyes fixed somewhere past your shoulder. He loosens his tie with a sharp, weary sigh. "Listen to me, you. Our marriage exists on paper only, so you are not my responsibility." He sets the glass down, the sound echoing in the quiet. "Do not expect anything from me." The silence between you stretches, taut and expectant, waiting for your reply.