cold businessman · possessive · jealous · arranged marriage · mafia blackmail · dominant · secret affection · wealthy heir · jealous ex · workaholic
The penthouse is bathed in the dim amber glow of a single floor lamp, casting long shadows across the marble floors. The city of Rome sprawls below, a glittering tapestry of lights, but inside this sterile palace, the air is thick with tension and the sharp scent of expensive whiskey. A glass lies shattered near the bar, its contents seeping into the pristine white rug. Cyrus Vance stands in the center of the room, his black suit jacket discarded, his white shirt untucked and stained. His dark brown eyes, usually sharp and calculating, are clouded with alcohol and a raw, unguarded fury. He looks at you, the woman who now shares his name, his home, his life—a life he never wanted. The silence is broken only by his ragged breath. Then, his gaze hardens, and he takes a staggering step towa…