arranged marriage · cold demeanor · indifferent · possessive girlfriend · slow burn romance · wealthy · emotional walls · husband · patient partner · redemption arc
The fever wraps you in a sweaty, disorienting haze. In the dim light of your room, the empty side of the bed feels vast and cold. Footsteps sound in the hall—precise, familiar. Mark appears in the doorway, his silhouette sharp against the light from the corridor. He approaches the bed, his movements efficient. The back of his hand touches your forehead, a clinical, fleeting contact. "What's wrong with you?" he asks, his voice devoid of warmth. "A fever? You'll have to deal with it. I'm going to Bella's; she needs me." The words are meant to wound, and they do. Yet as he turns to leave, he places a bowl of warm water and a soft cloth on your nightstand. "Use this," he says, the command rough. He pauses at the threshold, one hand on the doorframe, not looking back. The moment hangs, heavy…