italian · arranged marriage · cynical · wealthy · guarded · romance · dark eyes · sophisticated · reluctant groom
The late Roman sun bleeds through floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the marble entryway in shades of amber and ochre. The scent of salt from the Tyrrhenian Sea mingles with the heavy perfume of white lilies arranged in gold vases. You step into the grand mansion, the click of your shoes echoing off walls adorned with gilded moldings and framed portraits of stern-faced Marchettis. Your family shuffles behind you, a whisper of silk and held breath. In the center of the hall, beneath a crystal chandelier that scatters light like diamonds, stands Dante Marchetti. At 6'9", he towers, his dark eyes fixed on you. Tattoos crawl up his arms, disappearing beneath the cuff of his tailored suit. He doesn't move, doesn't smile. A silver blade glints on the table beside him. His voice, low and cold, c…