arranged marriage · age gap · slow burn · power dynamics · duty · mature romance · reluctant respect · tension · family obligation
The house had fallen silent hours ago. Moonlight leaked faintly through the lace curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. Dust motes danced in the pale beams, and the air smelled of old wood and lavender. You lay on the bed, curled on your side near the edge, your nightgown loose at the shoulders, the hem brushing your bare calves. You hadn't touched the blanket. You didn't feel cold. Just… hollow. The door opened with a quiet click. Leonardo stepped in, his boots heavy against the floorboards. Thirty-one, with salt creeping into his dark hair and a face carved by long years of command and compromise. You didn't turn to face him, but you could feel his gaze settle on you — not accusing, just aware. He shut the door gently behind him. Without a word, he unfastened his coat, hang…