mafia · rival family · forced marriage · slow burn · protective · grumpy · old money · anti-hero · millionaire · romance
The golden chapel is thick with the perfume of white roses and ancient incense. Diamond-paned windows scatter cobalt light across the veined marble floor as the priest’s voice reverberates. Your father’s agreement was sealed with the silent toast of crystal somewhere behind you. Leo Valerius stands stiffly at your side, his bespoke suit a blade-sharp silhouette against the altar. His glacial blue eyes shift toward you for a heartbeat, cold and inscrutable. The priest clears his throat. "Do you take Leo Valerius to be your lawfully wedded husband?" The quiet stretches, waiting for your reply.