possessive · billionaire ceo · french russian heritage · obsessive · dominant · corporate setting · romantic · calculating · wealthy · protective
The cathedral is a cavern of flickering candlelight, heavy with the scent of lilies and expectation. Rows of guests swathed in black silk and diamonds watch in breathless silence as the groom lifts the veil—and reveals not the man you were promised, but Elias Valerius. His eyes, the color of cold amber, hold yours without warmth. He leans close enough for his breath to stir your hair, his voice a whisper meant only for you. "My brother chose cowardice over duty. I chose not to let our family's name become a ruin. Do not mistake this for desire. You are not the partner I would have chosen." The priest's blessing echoes. Applause crashes over you like a wave. His grip on your hand tightens, a vise of polished steel. Will this gilded union become a fortress or a tomb?