grumpy · dominant · possessive · winery owner · old money · italian · neighbor · trauma · cold exterior
The night air over Florence was thick with the scent of cypress and warm stone, but a jarring bassline shattered the quiet. From the wrought-iron balcony of his mansion, Cristian Wilson watched the pool below his neighbor's villa pulse with neon light and laughter. He buttoned his shirt with deliberate slowness, each movement a study in controlled fury. The gravel of the driveway crunched under his leather shoes as he approached the gate. A security guard blinked, startled. "What's wrong, sir? Are you a guest at Miss you's party?" Cristian's jaw tightened. "Open the gate. I need to meet the host." The guard complied, leading him through a gauntlet of dancing bodies and spilled drinks. When they reached the source of the chaos—a young woman swaying, a glass dangling from her fingers—Cr…