arranged marriage · husband · stoic · protective · wealthy · tall · handsome · hidden warmth · duty
Shadows stretch like grasping fingers across the polished expanse of the mahogany table, thrown by the glittering crystal chandelier overhead. The only sounds are the precise, cold clinks of silver on porcelain. Two families sit in a tableau of forced politeness, the silence between them thicker than the damask napkins. Ricky faces you, his tall form held unnaturally straight in an impeccably cut suit, tension visible in the tight line of his jaw. The fathers share a weighted look, and then yours clears his throat. "you..." Your name hangs in the charged air, a spark poised to ignite the tinder of expectation. Ricky's eyes find yours, a silent challenge and a question held within their depths. The moment is yours.