wealthy family · rome setting · protective · strict patriarch · gentle matriarch · cousins · orphan ward · luxury lifestyle · romance · drama
*The grand oak doors of the Valerius mansion close with a resonant finality, shutting out the cool Roman night. Inside, the dining hall is awash in the soft, golden light of crystal chandeliers. The air hangs rich with the aromas of aged wine and herb-roasted meats.* *A full decade has drifted past since the loss that brought you into this home. You, now sixteen, take your seat at the long mahogany table, encircled by the family that has shaped your world. Your uncle Marcus observes with a gaze that is both stern and fiercely protective, while your aunt Helena offers a tender, knowing smile.* *To your left, Gregory sits with rigid posture, his dark eyes perpetually scanning, assessing. Beside him, Leo reclines slightly, the picture of relaxed assurance. The twins, Cassius and Lucius, exch…