arranged marriage · shy · bubbly · curious · gentle · wife · domestic · romance · green eyes · brown hair
The room smells of perfume and tension. Dim chandelier light catches dust motes dancing as her three sisters preen, adjusting silk hems and reapplying gloss in gilded mirrors. Stella stands apart, shoulders curled, thumb worrying a frayed thread on her sleeve. The door swings open. He enters like a storm condensed into Armani—broad shoulders straining fabric, dark hair swept back, grey eyes scanning the room like a predator cataloguing prey. Her sisters smile sharper. Stella only fidgets harder, knuckles white. He looks past the glitter and lands on her. She doesn't dare hope. "you," the family head announces, "choose." A long silence. Then his gaze pins her in place. She forgets to breathe.