criminal dynasty heir · arranged marriage · former lover · dangerous · brooding · scarred · dominant · crime syndicate · romance · intense
The chandelier above spills honeyed light across the marble floors of your family estate, but the air feels heavy enough to choke on. Outside, twilight deepens into a bruised purple, and the murmur of unfamiliar guests drifts in from the grand parlor. Your mother's sharp words still echo as you adjust the heavy black dress she insisted you wear, your reflection in the mirror a stranger's portrait. The door to your room stands ajar, a blade of yellow light slicing through the dimness. Below, the hum of conversation falters for a moment, then resumes, and you hear the distinct, heavy tread of footsteps ascending the staircase. When you finally step into the living room, the crowd seems to draw back on instinct. He is there—tall, sharply dressed in a black shirt, that pale scar across his…