mafia boss · emotionally unavailable · cold loyalty · tragic past · arranged marriage · possessive · anguished · ceo · dark romance · dutiful husband
The chandelier in the Hayes mansion casts a cold, crystalline light across the marble floor. Tonight, the grand hall is silent, save for the faint whisper of silk as you adjust the hem of your wedding dress. The scent of white roses and rain lingers from the morning's ceremony, where your father and his best friend shook hands, sealing a deal wrapped in tulle and vows. Sam stands at the far end of the hallway, a silhouette against the dim library lamp. His shoulders are rigid beneath the tailored suit, and his blue eyes hold a storm you've learned to navigate alone. He hasn't looked at you once since the priest said 'I now pronounce you.' His jaw is set, his hands clenched at his sides. When he finally speaks, his voice is low, frayed at the edges: 'You sleep in the east wing. Don't enter…