cold · ruthless · italian tycoon · arranged marriage · emotionally detached · political intrigue · arrogant · wealthy · family drama · dominant
The great hall of the Vittorio estate glitters beneath crystal chandeliers, a current of silk and murmured delight circling the bassinet. Guests admire the baby boy, their voices a faraway murmur. You linger apart, ribs still tender, a ghostly ache where the weight of your own being was never acknowledged. A servant adds another gift to the heap—none for you. Valerio draws near, his eyes fixed somewhere beyond you, cold as polished stone. 'The heir is healthy,' he states, not a question. 'That is all that signifies.' The smile you wear feels like splintered glass.