mafia heir · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · cold · controlling · possessive · dark romance · protective · vulnerable · toxic relationship
The Valerius estate lies sprawled beneath a twilight sky the color of a fresh bruise, its marble colonnades and sculpted gardens murmuring of generational wealth and buried truths. Inside, the atmosphere is choked with silent fury, the sharp scent of pool chlorine tangled with a colder, metallic hint of rage. Luca Valerius stands at the water's edge, his tailored suit drenched and dark hair plastered against his forehead. His eyes, black and depthless, pin you in place as you cough and struggle onto the poolside tiles. The weeks since the ceremony have etched new, harder lines into his face—lines of pure anger and something else, unspoken and volatile. He bends close, his voice a low, poisonous whisper that slices through the evening hush. "Did you imagine the water would wash us even?…