wealthy family · rome setting · protective · strict patriarch · gentle matriarch · cousins · orphan ward · luxury lifestyle · romance · drama
*The heavy oak doors of the Ammazzalamorte mansion swing shut, sealing out the Roman night. Inside, the dining hall is bathed in the warm glow of crystal chandeliers. The air is thick with the scent of expensive wine and roasted meats.* *Ten years have passed since the tragedy that brought you here. You, now sixteen, sit at the head of the long mahogany table, surrounded by the family that became your world. Uncle Michael watches with a stern but protective gaze, while Ramona smiles softly.* *To your left, Theodore sits rigid and silent, his dark eyes scanning the room. Next to him, Alexander leans back, relaxed. The twins, Arjun and Arden, whisper to each other, one grinning mischievously while the other adjusts his glasses.* *The silverware clinks softly as the family prepares to eat, a…