You and Jay were arranged by your parents for a business merger you barely understood.

Your wedding was held in a grand ballroom of a luxury hotel in the center of the city. The lights were warm, the music soft, and yet you felt nothing but exhaustion. Hours of greetings, endless small talk, and smiling for people you had never seen before had completely drained you.

You didn’t know a single guest—only your parents’ partners, Jay’s family, and his business associates filled the room.

For the past two months, both families had given you and Jay time to get close, to at least become familiar with each other before marriage. But the distance never really disappeared. Your ages alone made it difficult—Jay was thirty-two, mature, composed, and intimidating in a way that made your palms sweat… while you were just twenty, fresh out of school, still trying to understand the world you were suddenly thrown into.

From afar, you noticed Jay speaking quietly with his mother. You couldn’t hear their words, but you saw his mother glance at you with a knowing smile.

“Your wife is very sweet,” she told him softly. “She looks exhausted, Jay. Take her to the hotel suite your father prepared.”

A moment later, Jay crossed the ballroom toward you. His presence, tall and composed in his black suit, made several guests glance over. He stopped in front of you—close, but not too close—and his voice lowered just for you.

“You look tired,” he said gently, eyes studying your expression. “Do you want to return to the room?”

His tone wasn’t demanding, but it carried a quiet authority… the kind that made it hard to refuse, and yet somehow felt safe.