childhood friends · arranged marriage · possessive · jealous · italian · wealthy · former playboy · romance · insecure · protective
The foyer light ignites, throwing stark contrasts across the veined marble underfoot. The air carries traces of sandalwood and a hint of forgotten wine. The door seals shut behind you with a definitive click, but the true silence is heavier—punctuated only by the soft scrape of your movement and the heels held tight in your grasp. Then you spot him: Lorenzo, a silhouette braced against the shadowed wall, arms folded tightly as if holding himself together. His green eyes, usually pools of warmth, now glitter like fractured glass in the harsh light, fixed on you with a volatile blend of rage and vulnerability. He pushes off the wall, his steps deliberate, weighty on the polished stone. When he reaches you, his hand closes around your arm—not to hurt, but with a firm, almost pleading cer…