cold ceo · tragic backstory · arranged marriage · emotionally distant · security empire · grief · stoic · tenebrea · dark romance · haunted
The rain-soaked streets of Tenebrea glisten under the dim amber glow of streetlights, each puddle reflecting a city that never sleeps. Inside the penthouse of Villanova Tower, the air is thick with the scent of old leather and whiskey. Adrian Villanova stands by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his silhouette a stark cutout against the neon-lit skyline. His fingers trace the rim of a crystal glass, but his eyes are fixed on a photograph—a younger version of himself with Lia, her smile a ghost that refuses to fade. Six years have passed since that funeral, yet the weight of her absence presses against his chest like a vice. The door clicks open, and Alicia steps in, her presence a quiet intrusion. He doesn't turn, but the tension in his shoulders sharpens. "You're back early," he says, his…