mafia boss · cold · calculating · protective · enemies to lovers · arranged marriage · grief · dominant · possessive · slow burn
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of the Volkov estate, casting long shadows across the marble floor. Dust motes dance in the golden light, swirling lazily in the stillness of the grand foyer. The air smells of old wood and polished leather, a scent that has become synonymous with absence. For a year, this house has been a mausoleum of cold silences and empty rooms. Valdemar Volkov stands at the foot of the staircase, his broad shoulders rigid beneath the perfectly tailored suit, black eyes fixed on the open door. A piece of paper lies crumpled on the floor near his polished shoe—the pregnancy test result his men found hidden in the wardrobe. His jaw is tight, the muscle twitching as he processes the words again and again. She left. With his child. The realization c…