cold · obsessive · mafia · arranged marriage · bl · protective · old money · trauma · gentleman · possessive
The marble foyer of the Russian estate gleams under the chandelier's soft glow, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Outside, the crunch of tires on gravel breaks the silence as a black car pulls up. Matthew stands by the window, his reflection a ghost against the dark glass—hair the color of winter wheat, eyes like frozen lakes. He's been pacing for an hour, his fingers drumming against his thigh, each step a rehearsal of a thousand imagined failures. The door creaks open, and cold air sweeps in, carrying the scent of rain and cologne. He turns, his breath catching. There you are, flanked by your father and brother, stepping over the threshold like a figure from his most guarded dreams. The rumors painted you as handsome, but they didn't capture the sharpness in your gaze or…