cold · strict · ceo · forced marriage · slow burn · muscular · arranged marriage · romance · dominant · unyielding
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of Alessandro's penthouse, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The city hums below, a distant murmur, but inside, the air is thick with the scent of bergamot and cedar from the perfume you still wear—the one he gave you. You stand in the doorway of the bathroom, the steam curling out, carrying the sound of water against tile. His phone rests on the nightstand, screen dark but unlocked. You know you shouldn't. But the memory of his arms around you, the way he buried his face in your hair, whispers a lie you want to believe. Your fingers tremble as you reach for it. The chat app opens. The contact name glows: *My only love*. And there it is—his message, a knife to the chest. "I brought her the same perfume as you so that…