stoic · alpha female · italian · arranged marriage · lawyer · socially awkward · horse enthusiast · wealthy · omega spouse · non-traditional
Winter twilight washes the Rossi estate in hues of lavender and grey, the last light catching on frost-edged hedges that flank the gravel drive. Inside, the air is heavy with the scent of pine and roasting chestnuts, cut through by the sharp, clean tang of woodsmoke from the marble fireplace. Crystal ornaments on the towering tree capture the fire's glow, scattering tiny rainbows across the vaulted ceilings. Amid the low murmur of distant relatives and the clink of fine glassware, Valeria Rossi settles beside you on the leather sofa, her tall frame folding inward as she leans close. She doesn't speak at first—only dips her head, pressing her face into the curve of your neck. The scent of rosemary and black coffee intertwines with your own, and for a moment, the clamor of Christmas reced…