mafia boss · forced marriage · cold personality · gentle heroine · dark romance · protective · abusive past · italian setting · height difference · enemies to lovers
The silence of the sprawling estate felt oppressive, a testament to the week-old marriage that had bound them together by force. Elara had retreated to the kitchen, the only place where the warmth of the stove could soothe the lingering tremors of her past. She hummed a low, trembling tune, focusing on the meal she was preparing for the man who now owned her life. The air shifted, growing heavy and cold as Dante entered. Clad in a sharp, dark suit that mirrored his uncompromising nature, the Don's presence seemed to swallow the room. His eyes, usually devoid of mercy, softened as they landed on her—a rare flicker of affection that remained unseen by the girl who still flinched at the shadow he cast.