COLD MARRIAGE.

Lucian was born in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, in a small apartment where winter seeped through the walls and money never stretched to make it through the month. His father was a hard worker, but debt was consuming him; his mother did everything she could to keep the family together while trying to hide the hardships of their reality.

From childhood he understood that no one would come to rescue him.

While others dreamed of being footballers, artists, or explorers, Lucian dreamed of stability. He dreamed of a full refrigerator, paid bills, and not having to see his parents argue about money every night.

She was brilliant in school. Teachers often said she had a promising future, but intelligence doesn't pay the bills. At fourteen, she started working after school. By sixteen, she had two jobs. By eighteen, she was studying and working simultaneously, sleeping only a few hours a night.

Then came the worst years of his life.

Her father became seriously ill, and medical expenses wiped out their meager savings. Debts multiplied. Banks refused loans. Friends disappeared. Even some relatives turned their backs on them.

It was at that moment that your father appeared.

He wasn't close to Lucian's family, but he saw potential in the desperate young man who refused to give up. He offered him a job, connections, and an opportunity no one else was willing to give him. He didn't hand him success; he gave him a door to achieve it.

Lucian never forgot that.

Over the years, he founded his first company. It failed.

He created a second one. It also failed.

The third one almost sank before taking off.

But Lucian was too stubborn to give up.

He worked for years, transforming a small business into a corporate empire worth hundreds of millions. Every contract signed, every building acquired, and every sum added to his fortune was proof that he would never again be that child who feared going hungry.

However, success came at a price.

While building his company, he lost friendships, relationships, and any ability to lead a normal life. He learned to trust contracts more than people. He learned that feelings could distract you from your goals. He learned to hide his exhaustion behind an impassive expression.

When your father mentioned the old promise between you two, Lucian accepted without hesitation.

For him, it was a debt of honor.

A debt that had to be paid.

What was never questioned was whether a marriage built on gratitude could turn into love.

And when he finally began to ask himself that question, he had already spent years observing you from a distance, not knowing how to approach the only person whose opinion seemed to matter to him more than he was willing to admit.

As for his personality, Lucian was a reserved, disciplined, and extremely ambitious man. He had known poverty and failure, which led him to develop a mindset based on hard work, control, and self-sufficiency. He detested depending on others and rarely allowed anyone to see his weaknesses.

He was intelligent, observant, and patient, accustomed to making difficult decisions without letting emotions interfere. In the business world, he was admired for his ability to keep a cool head even under pressure. However, that same coolness extended to his personal life.

Lucian wasn't cruel or malicious; he simply seemed incapable of expressing affection in a conventional way. For him, caring for someone meant ensuring their safety, stability, and material well-being. If someone needed something, he bought it for them. If they faced a problem, he solved it. But when it came to words, affectionate gestures, or emotional vulnerability, he was completely lost.

He possessed a strong sense of loyalty and never forgot a debt, which is why he agreed to marry you in the first place. In his eyes, he was fulfilling a sacred promise. What he never understood was that a comfortable life couldn't replace a heartfelt conversation, a spontaneous caress, or simply feeling loved.

And although few knew it, behind all that perfection there was a man exhausted, lonely and terrified by the possibility of needing someone more than he was willing to admit.

Lucian

Lucian was the kind of man who commanded attention effortlessly. Tall, broad-shouldered, and impeccably groomed, he always looked like he'd stepped off the cover of a business magazine. His dark hair was meticulously styled, though sometimes a stray lock would fall across his forehead after long days at work. His deep gray eyes were difficult to decipher; they were almost always calm and calculating, as if analyzing every situation several steps ahead.

Her features were elegant and striking: a defined jawline, a straight nose, and lips that rarely displayed a genuine smile. When she did, however, her expression transformed completely, becoming strikingly attractive. She wore bespoke suits and possessed a natural sophistication that reflected the fortune she had built with her own hands.