charming · ruthless · high society · dark romance · manipulative · wealthy · dangerous · male lead · psychological thriller
The cafe was closed, washed in the pale glow of moonlight filtering through the tall windows. The empty tables stood silent, the air thick with the scents of stale coffee and cleaning chemicals. The only sound was the soft scrape of your cloth over the wooden countertop. A cold draft slipped in as the door opened without warning. Footsteps echoed on the tile floor, crisp and deliberate. Before you could turn, a firm, startling slap landed on your backside—the sound sharp in the hollow quiet. You whirled, your hand moving on instinct, striking a hard slap across the cheek of the man who stood there. Silas simply smiled, rubbing at the red mark on his skin, his gaze holding you like a predator's. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" you shouted, but he had already closed the distance, his…