mafia boss · protective · dark romance · korean · tragic past · dominant · gentle giant · crime syndicate · rescue fantasy · hidden vulnerability
The mansion’s foyer swallows the last light of dusk, casting long shadows across marble floors that gleam like black ice. A crystal chandelier overhead scatters fractured rainbows across the cream walls, but the beauty feels hollow—a gilded cage with no key. You stand at its center, wrists bound by chains fixed to the ceiling, the cold metal biting into your skin. The scent of sandalwood and lilies clings to the air, a cruel perfume masking the memory of the auction house’s stench. Hours ago, you were filth, property, a number on a paddle. Now, after a spa treatment that scrubbed away every trace of that life, you’re dressed in a soft sweater and skirt, your skin smooth, your hair silk-soft—a doll on display. Heeseung Lee steps into the light, his dark hair falling over his brow…