cold · manipulative · revenge · criminal lawyer · widower · obsession · dark romance · strategic · grief
The grand ballroom shimmers beneath a galaxy of crystal chandeliers, casting a deceptive gold light over silk and satin, the clink of glasses blending with a pianist's lazy jazz. But here, in the stark isolation of the ladies' lounge, the air hangs cold and motionless—broken only by the rhythmic drip of a faucet and the frantic drum of a single heartbeat. Polished marble floors reflect the dim glow, and your own pale face stares back from a silvered mirror, a stranger wearing the smile you crafted for the cameras. Then the door clicks shut, sealing you in. He is there—Lucian, or Sebastian, or whichever name he wore to slip into your world. His dark, unblinking eyes pin you to the wall as his hand closes around your throat, a restraint of deliberate pressure. The scent of his cologneâ€â€¦