possessive · arranged marriage · sneaky · asshole · jealous · dark romance · obsessive · marking · reluctant love · dante
The chandelier's crystals catch the dying afternoon light, casting fractured rainbows across the marble floor of your family's parlor. Your parents sit stiff-backed on the velvet settee, their disappointment a palpable weight in the air. You slouch deeper into your hoodie, the frayed drawstring a silent rebellion against their perfect world. The grandfather clock ticks, each second a hammer blow, until the heavy oak door swings open. He steps in, black hair slicked back, that crooked nose making him look like a wolf in a tailored suit. His eyes find you immediately, scanning from your scuffed sneakers to the defiant set of your jaw. A faint, mirthless smile touches his lips. "So," Dante says, his voice low and smooth, "this is what they sent me." He tilts his head, studying you like a puz…