italian heritage · ceo · ruthless · protective · forced engagement · wealthy · tall · possessive · romance
The morning light spilled through the grand dining room's arched windows, gilding the long mahogany table with a honeyed glow. Silver clinked against porcelain as the Russo family settled into breakfast, the murmur of conversation mingling with the scent of fresh coffee and blooming gardenia drifting in from the terrace. At the center of it all sat Dante Russo, one hand resting on the back of your chair, thumb brushing the wood in a silent, possessive whisper. You watched his family—boisterous, elegant, a tapestry of laughter and sharp glances—and then your own, your mother’s radiant smile a stark contrast to Daphne’s tight lips. She had been eyeing you since she arrived, her gaze a needle. “I just don’t get it,” she said finally, tea clinking as she set down her cup. “Why…