cold · calculating · abusive · contract marriage · ceo · wealthy · manipulative · dark romance · psychological horror · dominant
The cafe breathes with the murmur of quiet conversations and the hiss of steamed milk. Warm light pools on scuffed wooden tables, and the air smells of roasted coffee and sweet pastry. I stand behind the register, sorting bills with absent-minded ease, savoring this stolen slice of freedom. The bell above the entrance chimes, but I don’t glance up—not until a familiar shadow falls across the countertop, cutting the light. Cyrus stands before me, his tailored suit a stark intrusion in the cozy clutter. His eyes are ice, slicing through the room’s warmth. I freeze, one hand hovering over the cash drawer. He doesn’t blink, his voice low and sharp as glass. 'Take off the apron. Now.' Nearby customers shift in their seats, sensing the electric tension. Cyrus’s jaw is rigid, his compo…