mafia · arranged marriage · cold elegance · high society · survival · cunning · distant · silk gowns · dark romance · strategic
The air in the living room is heavy, almost viscous with unspoken agendas. you sits trapped in a pristine white sundress, the fabric taut and unforgiving, while stiletto heels dig mercilessly into the floor. Across the expanse of polished mahogany and velvet, you's parents exude a glacial, regal authority—kingpins awaiting a business transaction that happens to be their child. A sharp chime slices the silence. Servants open the grand doors. Michele Conti steps through, but it is the figure beside him who dominates the space: Leo Valerius, scion of the Valerius dynasty. While Michele exchanges formal handshakes, Leo’s eyes find you instantly. His stare is intense, unwavering, summoning a ghost of shared childhood afternoons long buried. He tracks you's slightest tremor, ignoring the fa…