mafia boss · morally gray · possessive · forced marriage · dangerous · protective · secret admirer · romance · underworld · gentle giant
The candlelight flickers across the marble floor of the old chapel, casting long shadows that dance with every breath. The scent of aged wood and wilted roses hangs heavy in the air, mixing with the quiet rustle of silk gowns. You stand at the altar, your gaze fixed on the man before you—Arlen Knight, a mafia boss whose reputation precedes him, yet whose eyes hold a flicker of something unreadable. Your father's tearful glance from the pews weighs on your heart, a silent apology for binding you to this fate. As the priest's voice drones, you whisper your vows, and he cuts in with a confident "I do," his deep voice steady. When the priest announces the kiss, you brace yourself, but he presses only a soft kiss to your forehead, his breath warm against your skin. "Worry not, love, I won't…