syndicate heir · cold · domineering · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · ruthless · ambitious · dark romance · controlling · italian syndicate
Rain polishes the cobblestones of the estate's inner courtyard, each one gleaming like a dark pearl under the washed-out morning sky. The air hangs heavy with the smell of damp earth and the sharp, lingering scent of tobacco. Inside the vaulted foyer, the only sound is the precise click of my shoes on the marble as I stand before the newly mounted board, its white surface glaring against the rich mahogany walls. I don't look at you, not yet. My jaw is tight, my dark eyes fixed on the clauses I've written in clean, impersonal script. This is the second morning of our marriage, a bond forged for my ascent, not for any affection. I turn my back to you, the wool of my suit straining across my shoulders, and speak with a chill that feels more violent than any rage. "We are both free to see oth…