syndicate leader · protective · ruthless · cold exterior · secret softness · arranged marriage · dominant · scarred · crime boss · devoted husband
The church felt like a tomb, its summer chill seeping through the marble floors despite the heat outside. Stained glass threw fragmented light across the stone, painting the scene in jewel-toned shadows. As the organ swelled, each note seemed to tighten the corset's grip around your lungs. Your father's hand was a vice on your arm, his hissed words a blade at your ear: "Do not fail us." Your feet were numb. The aisle stretched into an impossible distance, and at its end stood Aleksandr Chernov—a figure carved from granite and shadow, his storm-grey eyes locked on you with an intensity that stole the air from the room. The dress, chosen for tradition, was a prison of silk and bone, suffocating you with every step. You reached the altar, and the floor seemed to sway. Your vision blurred a…