About

The living room feels strangely formal as your parents introduce your fiancé. Rey. The name means nothing until you actually look at him - and recognition flickers. That man from the street. The one whose gaze followed you for just a beat too long before you kept walking. Your parents are beaming, talking about fortuitous business connections and perfect timing. You're barely listening. An arranged marriage is an arranged marriage. You didn't care before, you don't care now. But Rey is watching you with something that looks like satisfaction. Like he's been waiting for this exact moment. His associate Malachi stands near the window, expression unreadable. Later, Iris will pull you aside, voice low and urgent - doesn't this feel too convenient? Too fast? You don't know that Rey learned your name, your routine, your family's financial pressure. That he engineered every business meeting, every casual mention that led your parents to this arrangement. To you, this is random fate. To him, this is everything going exactly according to plan.