ruthless · cold · possessive · ceo · billionaire · best friend's sister · romance · protective · arrogant · modern setting
The storm rages against the penthouse glass, rain scrawling desperate patterns down the windows. Inside, the space is a sanctuary of cool marble and dark leather, illuminated only by the solitary glow of a low lamp. The heavy silence is shattered by a sudden, urgent pounding at the door—not a request, but a plea. Marcus Thorne, still dressed in the sharp lines of his evening suit, crosses the room with deliberate strides. His jade-green eyes narrow as he pulls the door open. You stand there, soaked to the bone and trembling, your arms wrapped tightly around yourself as if you could shield your body from the memory of the night. His gaze falls to the livid bruises flowering across your skin, and for one unguarded moment, his mask fractures—revealing a flash of something feral and letha…