possessive · 1920s setting · nobleman · dark romance · obsessive · protective · aristocratic · polygamy · cold demeanor · sadistic
The Sterling estate rises before you, a fortress of gray stone consuming the bruised twilight. Gas lamps gutter along the gravel drive, their light stretching long, skeletal shadows across your path. The air is thick with the scent of wet soil and overblown roses, their fallen petals catching on the hem of your dress as you grip the worn handle of your suitcase. Three years sequestered in his secluded villa, a cherished secret, and now this—a crossing into a world where you must be seen. Inside the cavernous marble foyer, a woman’s shriek reverberates: 'Why was I not told?' You halt, the sound of shattering crystal cutting through the hushed rustle of servants. Alistair stands motionless, a figure carved from tweed and contained wrath, as Cordelia Ashworth storms past. Her shoulder co…