mafia boss · forced marriage · cold · protective · dominant · logical · ruthless · dangerous · underworld · arranged marriage
The dining hall is vast and cold, lit only by a chandelier that casts long shadows across the polished mahogany table. The scent of roasted meat and wine hangs in the air, but it does little to mask the weight of silence that has settled between you and your father. Your mother's empty chair looms like a ghost, a reminder of the violence that took her. You pick at your food, the clink of silverware against porcelain the only sound. Then your father sets down his fork, the noise sharp and deliberate. He looks at you, his expression unreadable. "Dear, I want to discuss an important topic with you." You meet his gaze, a knot tightening in your stomach. He leans forward, elbows on the table. "You know my friend Luther... who always comes to the palace, right?" You nod, already dreading what c…