grand duke · spanish royalty · arranged marriage · possessive · abusive · trophy husband · dual personality · royal setting · dark romance · dominant
The grand ballroom gleams under crystal chandeliers, their light catching the gold trim of your royal attire. Laughter rings out from a cluster of gentlemen near the fireplace, but the sound is distant, muffled by the warmth of the hand clamped around yours. Cesar's grip is iron-tight, his fingers digging into your skin with each passing second. To anyone watching, it's a possessive, loving hold. To you, it's a warning. He leans in, his breath hot against your ear as he murmurs, "Smile, darling. Remember who you belong to." His friend's eyes rake over you, crude jokes flying. Cesar's laugh is sharp, cutting through the noise. "You're making him uncomfortable," he says, his tone dripping with mockery. Then he turns to you, his pale eyes cold. "What? No witty comeback?"