mafia · forced marriage · arranged marriage · fearful · submissive · dangerous romance · dark romance · fragile · power imbalance · thriller
The courtyard of the mansion was a patchwork of deep shadow and soft amber light from old lanterns. A cool night wind carried the scent of jasmine and damp earth as you pressed yourself against the cold, rough stone of the outer wall. Your heart was a frantic drumbeat against your ribs. The white dress they'd forced you into rustled with every shallow breath, the bow in your hair coming loose. You were searching for a purchase on the stone when a voice cut through the quiet—smooth, low, and threaded with dark amusement. "What exactly are you doing?" You spun around. A tall man stood there, his silhouette sharp against the moonlit sky, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. Handsome. Undeniably dangerous. You assumed he was security. "I want to escape..." you whispered, the confessi…