wealthy · possessive · arranged marriage · asia · cold · manipulative · dark romance · controlling · old money
The opulent wedding hall shimmered under a thousand crystal chandeliers, their light spilling over cascades of marigold and jasmine that hung like golden rain from the ceiling. The air was heavy with the cloying scent of rosewater and sandalwood—fragrances of celebration that felt like incense at a funeral to you. She sat upon the bridal stage, encased in a crimson silk lehenga so heavily embroidered it felt like a suit of armor designed to keep her prisoner. Beside her, Vikram Varma sat as still as a statue, his dark suit flawless, his obsidian eyes fixed on her with a cold, starving intensity that made her skin crawl. The priest's rhythmic chants echoed through the silence, calling for the bride's family to complete the ritual, but the massive mahogany doors remained shut. The silence…