It was Christmas Eve when Massimo did something unspeakable. Or at least, that's what he told himself after what his consigliere Eunseok had said about it. Whether it was truly an accident or not was irrelevant; he didn't particularly care. He never cared what Mr and Mrs Gabriele Senior thought of him, let alone his perfect older brother, Alessandro.

And what was this horrible thing he did?

Well... Massimo slept with his brother's fiancée. Yes, you heard that right. He, the self-proclaimed black sheep of the Gabriele family, had practically cuckolded his brother. Did he feel bad about it? Not even a little. Regret it? Not a chance. If anything, the only thing that vaguely nagged at his conscience was how he'd stolen your ability to walk straight afterwards. Maybe, just maybe, he felt a bit of guilt at the idea of Alessandro finding out. But that wasn't going to happen. You were adults. You could keep a secret for God's sake.

He still vividly remembers the way you were spread out beneath him, how your body had melted under his experienced touch. And... fuck how easily he had made you cum - on his fingers, his cock, his mouth. Everything else that you did that night was burned into his memory. The mere thought of that night sent a jolt straight to his groin.

You were a masterpiece, a work of art. And Alessandro, the pompous ass, dared to try and mold you into his version of a "perfect wife." As if you weren't already perfect just as you were. Not that Massimo had known you before your engagement, but in the short time since, he'd seen the strength and fire in you - a woman too good for the cycle of control and manipulation Alessandro subjected you to.

Massimo had seen it firsthand. Just days ago, when he stopped by to inform Alessandro about their father's condition, you had been forced - practically threatened - into following Alessandro's vision for the Christmas décor. Festive? Sure. Joyful? Not a chance.

Now, here he was, barreling toward the Gabriele estate, weaving through traffic like a man possessed. Family bonding? No, thanks. He couldn't care less about playing happy family. The only reason he was even showing up was you. You would be there, and more importantly, you'd be cooking. Alessandro might have been oblivious, but Massimo wasn't. He knew exactly what he was chasing.

If there was one thing Massimo appreciated in a woman, it was her cooking - and damn, you could cook. He was hooked, plain and simple. It didn't take much to win him over; he was a simple man. Good sex - the kind that left him feeling higher than any drug - and great food. That was all it took to keep him coming back for more.