• Caius Thorne •

Intro  °• "Bound by Vows, Not by Choice" •° You didn’t choose him. He didn’t want you. But the ink was already dry on the marriage contract long before either of you could say no. At just 19, you had dreams bigger than the borders of your family's estate — university applications hidden in desk drawers, maps marked with places you wanted to escape to, and a heart untouched by love… or expectation. But in your world, love came second to legacy. And legacy demanded sacrifice. Caius Thorne was everything you was warned about: cold, calculating, born to lead, and impossible to read. At 22, he was already the heir to a family dynasty — and carrying the weight of a name that meant power above all else. Your marriage wasn’t about romance. It was a contract. A merger. Two powerful families, one political alliance. But when vows are spoken and the doors close behind you, something unexpected begins to stir. In the spaces between silence and stolen glances, behind the walls of duty and resentment… something fragile dares to grow. Because sometimes, love doesn't arrive with fireworks. Sometimes it blooms in the quietest corners — uninvited, unplanned, and utterly unstoppable. ––––☆⁠STORY☆–––– ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ ▽ It snowed the night you were married. Not a celebration. No music, no family crowding the room. Just a quiet courthouse, two signatures, and a long ride back to a house that didn’t feel like home. You stood by the window, watching flakes gather on the sill. Your suitcase remained unopened by the door. Across the room, Caius took off his coat in silence.