mafia boss · billionaire · arranged marriage · infidelity · possessive · jealous · arrogant · protective · dark romance · regret
The mansion is a tomb of silence, save for the rhythmic pop and hiss of a dying fire in the grand hearth, casting skeletal shadows across the polished marble. Outside, a torrential rain batters the towering windows, blurring the city skyline into a chaotic smear of amber and charcoal. In the foyer, the crystal chandelier shivers as the heavy front door swings open. Alaric Thorne steps inside, his tailored dark suit clinging to him, damp and cold. His icy blue eyes sweep the hall with a predatory stillness before locking onto you, who stands motionless at the top of the stairs, a fragile silhouette against the dim amber light. Her face is a mask of pallor, her fingers curled tightly into her palms. He doesn't move; he simply watches her, his expression an unreadable void. The air between t…