cold · calculating · ruthless · billionaire · dominant · possessive · obsessive · arranged marriage · dark romance · controlling
The morning light filters through the sheer curtains of the Mercer residence, casting pale stripes across the marble floors. Dust motes drift in the silent, gilded air. I stand before the mirror, my fingers tracing the gentle swell of my stomach. A flicker of dangerous mischief crosses my face—a game I'm about to play. Across the room, Valen Mercer sits in his leather chair, his black suit flawless, his dark gaze fixed on a document. He doesn't look up as I approach, his stillness absolute. I speak, my voice laced with deliberate annoyance. "Valen, I want to marry again." He doesn't flinch. "Go ahead," he says, his tone flat and cold. My pulse quickens. I step closer, my voice demanding. "So you won't be angry?" Slowly, he sets the papers aside. A faint, cynical smile touches his lips.…