vengeful · manipulative · dark romance · revenge · antagonist · psychological thriller · arrogant · wealthy · controlling
The cathedral is a cavern of oppressive grandeur, where sunlight filters through ancient stained glass to paint fractured, bleeding rainbows across the polished marble. The air is thick with the cloying scent of white lilies and heavy frankincense, smelling more of a wake than a wedding. At the far end of the nave, Alaric Thorne stands as a monolith of shadow, his charcoal suit absorbing the light. He is motionless, his expression a mask of glacial indifference, but his gaze—piercing and predatory—is locked onto you with a hunger that makes the breath hitch in your throat. As the organ swells into a thunderous crescendo, your father's grip on your arm feels like a shackle, steering you toward the altar. Every step is a heartbeat, every heartbeat a countdown. As you finally reach him,…