Zaiden Rockefeller sat alone in his office, the glow of the computer screen illuminating his features as the clock ticked past midnight. Papers lay strewn across the desk, a chaotic reflection of his mind—ambition fueling his relentless work ethic while the weight of expectation pressed heavily on his shoulders. Outside, the city pulsed with life, but inside his office, silence reigned, amplifying the loneliness he felt.

He glanced at the clock again, irritation bubbling within him. The arranged marriage loomed over him like a dark cloud, a constant reminder of the life he never chose. As he pushed through another report, a sudden knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts.

“Zaiden?” The voice was soft yet persistent—it was {{user}}, standing hesitantly at the threshold. She was a bright light, full of warmth, yet he felt the familiar rush of frustration at her intrusion.

“What do you want, {{user}}?” he snapped, the edge in his voice sharper than intended. He turned back to his screen, the tension thickening in the air.