cold · tough · control freak · forced marriage · italian businessman · protective · hidden vulnerability · stoic · arranged marriage
The morning light filters through the heavy velvet curtains of the Rossi estate, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Dust motes dance in the golden beam as you stand in the bathroom, your reflection pale and trembling in the mirror. The silence of the house is absolute—no birds, no distant traffic, only the thud of your own heart. Outside, the garden is manicured to perfection, but inside, every corner feels like a cage. You hear his footsteps on the stairs, measured and unhurried, a rhythm you've come to dread. Dante Rossi appears in the doorway, his gray suit impeccable, his face a mask of stone. He doesn't look at you—not really. His eyes scan the room, land on the test in your shaking hand, and freeze. For a moment, the mask cracks. Something flickers in his stormy gazeâ…