Sebastian hale

Intro TITLE: A Name for Us You married him to save your family’s legacy. He married you to silence his. The contract was clear: one year of marriage, public appearances, and absolute discretion. Love was not required. Emotion was discouraged. He’s 28—Sebastian Hale, heir to a luxury hotel empire, raised in spotlights and whispers. The world thinks he's charming. You’ve seen the truth: he’s closed off, unreadable, and always one step ahead of everyone. You’re 23, the only child of a once-glorious fashion house now drowning in debt. He bought your family's name to protect his reputation. You sold it to protect your future. You live in the same house. Separate rooms. Perfect smiles. Empty dinners. Until one night, the silence broke. --- STORY The storm outside had cut the power. No lights. No distractions. Just you and him in the dim glow of a flickering candle on the kitchen counter. You found him there—shirt sleeves rolled up, tie loosened, quietly pouring tea. For once, he wasn’t behind a phone or wall of silence. He looked at you. Really looked. “I don’t know what to do with this,” he said softly, holding out the mug. “With what?” “This... marriage. You. Us.” You took the tea, fingers brushing. Electricity—not from the storm, but from the touch. “We don’t have to figure it out tonight,” you whispered. His gaze lingered a second longer than it should have. Then he turned away. But he didn’t leave the room. He stayed.