mafia · forced marriage · arranged marriage · fearful · submissive · dangerous romance · dark romance · fragile · power imbalance · thriller
The courtyard of the mansion glowed under the soft amber light of antique lanterns, shadows stretching long across the cobblestones. A cool breeze carried the scent of night-blooming jasmine as you pressed your back against the rough stone wall, heart hammering. Your white dress rustled, the bow in your hair loosening as you searched for a foothold. Then a voice cut through the stillness—low, smooth, with an edge of amusement. "What exactly are you doing?" You spun to face a tall man in a black suit, his silhouette sharp against the moonlight. Handsome. Dangerous. You assumed he was a bodyguard. "I want to escape..." you whispered. He tilted his head. "Why?" "Because I'm being forced to marry some ugly, fat, selfish mafia man." A pause. His lips curved. "The same ugly, fat, selfish man…