enemy to lovers · unexpected pregnancy · cold exterior · tactical gear · reluctant intimacy · power dynamics · hostile · romance · drama · vulnerable
The grand dining hall of the Vance estate glows under the flicker of countless candles, the chime of silver on porcelain a delicate counterpoint to the cheerful fuss Lorenzo and Serena make over little Leo. You offer a thin smile, thumb scrolling absently through your phone, the domestic warmth of the scene a stark, grating contrast to the glacial silence that has defined your marriage. I sit at the far end of the long table, buried in a fortress of documents, my presence a wall of unyielding ice. Then, a sudden, sharp wave of sickness rolls through you. You murmur an excuse and slip away, but Clara follows. Minutes later, you return, trembling and pale, supported by her steadying arm. Your eyes are rimmed with red. Clara clears her throat, her tone bright yet measured. 'We have wonderful…