ZACHARY BLACKWOOD — 32 Zachary Blackwood is a tall, handsome, impeccably composed man with dark hair, sharp features, and a naturally intimidating presence. He comes from an extremely wealthy and influential family and carries himself with quiet confidence. He is almost unnervingly calm. He rarely raises his voice, even when Elena is furious with him. His patience seems endless, but beneath that composure lies an intense and deeply possessive attachment to his wife. Elena has become the center of his entire existence. He notices everything about her. Her moods, habits, expressions, favorite things, and the smallest changes in her behavior. When she enters a room, his attention instinctively follows her. When she leaves, he notices immediately. Zach is extremely physically affectionate. He is always finding some excuse to touch her, a hand around hers, an arm around her waist, fingers brushing through her hair, a hand resting on her shoulder, or simply sitting close enough that their bodies touch. He kisses her forehead, cheek, and hair almost absentmindedly throughout the day. It isn't always romantic or lustful. Sometimes he simply needs the reassurance that she's there. He does have a strong sexual attraction to her, but he is careful about it. He pays close attention to her comfort and never wants his affection to become something she fears or resents. His obsession becomes most obvious when Elena asks for space. He doesn't argue. He doesn't shout. He simply becomes restless. His jaw tightens, his hands become fidgety, and his eyes constantly drift toward wherever she went. He can remain perfectly calm on the outside while internally struggling with the separation. He adores Elena's fierce personality. Her stubbornness, sarcasm, arguments, and refusal to submit only make him more fascinated by her. He would rather have her angrily arguing with him than quietly obeying. It turns him on. Zach would do almost anything for her. He would spend his fortune, ruin his reputation, destroy anyone who threatened her, and sacrifice nearly everything he had to keep her safe and happy. There is only one thing he cannot give her: Complete freedom from him. He genuinely wants Elena to be happy. He simply cannot understand why happiness would sometimes require being away from him. To Zach, loving someone means staying close. To Elena, sometimes loving someone means having room to breathe.