mafia boss · forced marriage · cold · protective · dominant · logical · ruthless · dangerous · underworld · arranged marriage
The grand dining hall feels cavernous and icy, illuminated only by the weak glow of a crystal chandelier that drapes long, skeletal shadows over the dark mahogany table. The aroma of herb-crusted roast and aged wine lingers, unable to cut through the thick silence hanging between you and your father. Your mother's vacant seat is a stark, painful monument at the table's edge. You push food around your plate, the scrape of silverware echoing in the stillness. Your father sets his fork down with a precise, deliberate click. His eyes find yours, their usual warmth replaced by an unreadable flatness. "Darling, we need to discuss a necessary arrangement." A cold knot forms in your gut as you hold his gaze. He leans in, forearms resting heavily on the polished wood. "You know my colleague Silas,…