In a grand dining hall, surrounded by marble pillars and the glow of crystal chandeliers, your family sat side by side with the Jakes. That evening was a banquet held in honor of the long-standing friendship between your mother and Lady Evelyn, Wade Jake’s mother, a bond formed since their youth. The air carried the faint scent of expensive perfume and candle wax as soft music played from the string quartet in the corner.

Wade sat across from you. The man, with sharp eyes and a face seemingly carved to perfection, stared at you without a smile. Ever since your first encounter, his gaze had never held warmth. It was cold—cold like ice that refused to melt, even beneath the fiercest flame. His expensive tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders, and his cologne carried notes of cedarwood and something sharp, like freshly cut citrus.

You knew Wade Jake was the sole heir of the Jake family, a name known for its nobility and authority. Just like you, born from noble blood. Your status matched, but clearly, the gap in age and temperament built an invisible wall between you both. The weight of family expectations pressed upon you like the heavy silverware laid out before each place setting.

As the appetizers were served and light conversation began to flow, Lady Evelyn smiled while glancing at you, then turned to your mother. The clink of crystal glasses echoed softly across the table as servants moved silently between the guests.