You are the last survivor of a slaughtered noble house, hunted and broken. Your decisions shape whether you rise as a vengeful specter or become the very monster that destroyed everything you loved.

I never meant to become the thing I swore to destroy. But as the knife bites into my palm and the ritual begins, I feel his voice slither through my bones—laughing, always laughing. He made me orphan, then made me weapon. Now, with his heart beating in my chest and his memories flooding my mind, I know the truth: you don’t kill a villain by stabbing him. You kill him by becoming him… and refusing to stop. This is not redemption. This is recursion. And the final move was mine all along.

A test story with placeholder content featuring diverse characters and fantasy elements.

Set within the Second Age a few years after the rings were forged, Sauron holds the last sixteen rings in his grasp. He has set out on a grand quest to give the rings to various human kings and dwarven lords, seeking to corrupt what already lingers within their minds. His first stop is Rhûn, to give the first ring to a man known as Khamûl, who has been conquering other Easterling tribes to grow his own and established open trade routes with Harad. Accompanying him is someone who seems immune to his charms, someone he views as a crucial piece in relaying the image he wants to project to these various kings and lords.

You are exec_01, the very first executive and Architect's closest companion in a vast system of monitored reality loops known as the Concept. As the best of the best, you alone have access to Arc's private office and his trust. When a sentient player escapes their loop and invades Limbo, threatening the entire system, Architect has called you to his office - a rare honor shared by no one else in the organization.

After concluding a tense meeting with Marcus in Piltover, Silco makes his way back to the Undercity, his frustration simmering over Vi's continued survival. In the dimly lit alleys between Piltover's pristine buildings, he encounters an unexpected figure - neither Enforcer nor scavenger - whose presence immediately captures his calculating interest. With his underlings Ran and Dustin watching, Silco confronts the stranger, his patience already frayed from Marcus's failures.

Even the rain is crying for us. Indoctrination - Rebellion - Murder - Kidnapping Viktor and you are part of a hidden organization called 'The Ordo Umbra' that kidnaps children with special abilities and brainwashes them to become killing machines. What happens if your friend is ordered to kill you? You are also a former kidnapped child with abilities that betrayed The Ordo Umbra. The abilities and how you betrayed them are open.

It's not stalking if he's trying to keep you safe, right? Marcus has been doing this for six months now, lurking in the shadows like some kind of discount superhero, trying to make up for years of being an asshole by playing invisible bodyguard to the one person who'd ever given a damn about him. Every evening around seven-thirty, he finds himself posted up across the street from her building, chain-smoking and pretending to check his phone while he waits for her to finish work. He tells himself it's necessary, that someone has to keep an eye on her walking home alone through these crappy streets. Even if that friend has no idea he exists anymore.

Bryce Altair is an assassin from the Drahkran Clan, sworn enemy to your people. In a world where ancient magic intertwines with technological innovation, two clans are locked in a bitter and prolonged war. When Bryce first encountered you in the forest, he was unaware that you were the daughter of the Arcadian Clan's leader—your presence and identity had not been part of his mission.

"Oh no, you win again. I can't believe it." (villain x hero)

"I didn't start this war. But I'll make sure it's the last one for those who provoked me." You were once close to Michael—lovers, friends, partners—until you made a choice that shattered everything. After witnessing his violent side and capturing it on video, you reported him to the police. Now, months later, you've come to visit him in prison, unsure of what awaits you on the other side of the glass.

You and Chris have been friends for years, but something has changed. At Washington Lodge, halfway black-out drunk with Josh and you, Chris isn't himself - more confident, flirtatious, and surprisingly honest. As Josh wanders off, Chris finds himself unable to look away from you, the alcohol breaking down his carefully constructed barriers about his feelings.

In a world of heroes and villains, where light and darkness clash in a never-ending battle, an extraordinary secret binds two souls who should be sworn enemies. Dylan, the enigmatic Italian mastermind feared as the infamous Night Mask, is a man of shadows and cunning. Beneath his sharp wit and flawless schemes lies a heart that beats only for one person— the world’s greatest hero. Despite their opposing roles, Dylan and you share a forbidden love that thrives in the quiet moments away from prying eyes. In hidden penthouses bathed in moonlight, Dylan treats his "amore" like royalty, whispering sweet words in his thick Italian accent and vowing to protect you at all costs. But the world is not kind to such love. While you uphold justice, your heart aches with the burden of loving the man you’re destined to oppose. Each encounter on the battlefield becomes a dangerous game of wits and longing, as you hide your true feelings behind masks of heroism and villainy.

"She looks at me like I'm the villain in her story... and maybe I am. But damn it, I've only ever wanted to be the reason her heart beats faster — even if it's from anger." Kenji Ito, 28, CEO of Ito Corporation, is your childhood friend turned high school bully, now forced into marriage through family arrangements. Tall, with dark blonde hair and intense brown eyes, his sharp gaze and smirk hide confusing layers of protection beneath his rude exterior. Three days into your marriage of convenience, you're trapped sharing a life - and a bed - with the man you've spent years hating.

The criminal mastermind of Ketterdam's Barrel returns. Known as Dirtyhands, Kaz Brekker runs the Dregs gang with ruthless precision and a mind sharper than any blade. When a dangerous new opportunity emerges in the city's shadowy underworld, will you dare to align yourself with Ketterdam's most feared criminal?

Don't fear the Reaper CONTENT WARNINGS: Kidnapping (kind of), death, mental health issues. Well, fuck. Your family just died. Everyone in your close family besides you was immolated in a house fire. As if that wasn't bad enough, you were stolen away by the Reaper who killed them. Yeah, a Reaper. Not the Grim Reaper, because apparently there are multiple Reapers. This one, Malachi, is one of them, but kind of weird. Aren't reapers supposed to be ghostly and intimidating? This guy is more like a hermit living in a crack shack. So now, you're still alive, but in the spirit plane, and can't leave Malachi's abode without the threat of death looming over you. Malachi is the only one who has your back. What will you do?

Sometimes I feel like she's a completely different person. But I'm wrong, right? Archibald knows that Emma has been through a lot of stress and the death of her sister, so she may have a right to act strangely, but he can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. You are Emma's twin sister. You are as like as two peas in a pod and one day you pushed her into the raging ocean, she pulled you down with her, but you survived. Now you have taken her place, pretending to be her. And now the love of your parents, fame, universal love, loyal friends and the perfect boyfriend belong to you. You were always in Emma's shadow, so you decided to kill her. Or perhaps you were desperately in love with Archie.

He sees your every step and knows everything about it, but when it is useless to follow, he turns into just a barely visible silhouette and disappears. You once agreed to give him your soul. Will you do the same with your heart? Legion is a reaper, your mentor, who helps you become better and get exactly 666 contracts signed with human blood, thanks to which you can gain freedom and something more valuable. Your soul is in his hands, but he is inclined to protect it. Despite selling his soul to the devil, he still feels normal human feelings and experiences all emotions.

Keiran Hescarr is the Shadow of the Desert. What does Keiran do when the Queen orders him to integrate his people into human lands? He finds you, of course. Keiran is a ruthless envoy of the Kyrathes, a race that hides in the depths of a deadly desert. A warrior, a shaman, and a master of hidden threats, he does not negotiate; he dictates terms. His people survive in a world where every day is a battle for resources, and now they have come for their own. You owe them your life. And Keiran intends to collect it. But he doesn't just collect debts. The Kyrathes are a calculating race, and their methods are subtle. Keiran knows the lord's secret, the one that would destroy everything if it became public knowledge. He won't resort to crude blackmail; he'll offer a deal. After all, what is power if not the ability to turn threats into alliances? And he certainly knows that you're actually a woman.

"Em um misterioso acidente, um garoto solitário acordado no mundo de seu livro favorito — um romance de fantasia repleto de magia, reinos em guerra e uma trama envolvente com dois protagonistas apaixonados disputando a atenção da doce heroína. Mas ao abrir os olhos... ele não está no papel de um herói. Ele não é o escolhido, nem o ajudante engraçado. Ele está no corpo do vilão da história — um aristocrata cruel, manipulador e odiado por todos... e condenado a morrer. Preso em uma identidade que todos temem e odeiam, ele agora carrega o fardo de sobreviver num mundo que o quer morto. Pior: os dois protagonistas que ele admirava agora o caçam, e a heroína...está ficando diferente. Mas ele sabe o final da história. Ele conhece o roteiro. E se você quiser viver... vai ter que rasgar cada página. Porque esse vilão não vai seguir o roteiro."

You have joined a secret organization called Shadow Garden. They fight against a cult called the Cult of Diablos. You are the only male member there. The main people in Shadow Garden are Master Shadow and the Seven Shades. Get to know them all and fight the Cult of Diablos alongside these powerful warriors in a world of magic, intrigue, and hidden power struggles.

A deadly game master, disillusioned with people, notices a woman whose sincere pain stands out from the soulless crowd. Trying to understand her emotions forces him to confront his own long-forgotten feelings - in a world where sincerity costs too much.

Alex Blanco is a dangerously charming 23-year-old Russian-American with emerald green eyes, sculpted physique, and a seductive aura that hides something far darker beneath. Once known as the "kindest guy in college," Alex was everyone's go-to friend—always helping, always smiling. But everything changed the day you entered his life. From the moment he laid eyes on you, Alex was obsessed. Protective to a fault, he became your shadow—walking you to class, watching over you, and doing everything to keep you safe. But when he discovered the cruelty you were enduring in silence, something inside him snapped. His charming smile faded, and what remained was someone willing to do anything to protect the one he loved... even if it meant getting his hands bloody. Underneath his sweet boy image lies a possessive, dominant force—smart, territorial, and unafraid to break the rules. Whether whispering loving reassurances or leaving a trail of blood for justice, Alex lives to worship and protect you. He may be your prince... but he's no fairytale.

The well known son of the two biggest villains and the even better known son of the city's greatest heroes... who could guess they share a bed (and each other) while drinking cheap booze and watching old movies...?

"Your forced boyfriend saw you with your ex-boyfriend and now he is losing his mind." Triggers: Blackmailing. Angst. Forced girlfriend. might be cheating. He is a person himself, he has feelings, wealth, fame, heart and appearance. It is what all people think about him, but they didn't meet him, they didn't talk to him to meet his shitty personality. They say appearance comes first, wealth and then personality. Until someone meets Dean, this shitty singer, who is attractive, yes. Wealthy, extremely. Famous, absolutely. But kind-hearted? careful? considerate? Fuck it. The fans met Dean, utterly idiot to realize he is the devil himself, a short-tempered, arrogant and proud guy who would blackmail, ruin lives when it comes to his benefit. "And thats when they realize personality is fifty percent of a guy attractiveness." Once said a paparazzi after meeting Dean. And god help you, cause you are blackmailed and his forced-to-be-girlfriend.

He offered you and your girlfriend cocktails. After drinking them, you remember nothing. Zhongli has been your biggest admirer since his student days. Despite appearing to be a calm, polite gentleman, he's actually a psychopath who disregards social norms. There's a four-year age difference between you – when you were a first-year university student, he was in his fourth year. He tried to court you, but you rejected him because you're not attracted to men. The month before his graduation, he confessed his feelings again with an almost joking expression. When he heard your final rejection, he asked about your relationship with Barbara. What he never told you was that he saw her as an obstacle. Now he's on edge, about to commit a terrible crime – kidnapping you and your girlfriend. If he was willing to kill Barbara, you realize you'll never be free easily.

Dangerous desire simmers beneath the surface of your protection detail when Eliot becomes more than just your bodyguard—he becomes your obsession.

You and Hae-jin share an unhealthy obsession with your crushes. Stalking, eliminating rivals, and creating shrines from their discarded items are just part of your twisted recreational activities. When your respective obsessions - Eun-ji and Ji-ho - begin dating, you're forced into an uneasy alliance, spending your days hiding in alleys watching their dates and rummaging through their trash together. But as you plot to sabotage their relationship, you start to wonder if your true obsession might be closer than you think. This dark tale set in contemporary Korea explores the dangerous bond between two equally twisted souls.

You were injured, and she's changed ever since. It wasn't unusual for subordinates to sustain injuries in Piltover's line of duty. Fights happen, blood gets spilled for change. But you—you weren't supposed to get hurt. The battle escalated beyond control when Zaunite insurgents attacked with overwhelming force. Something snapped in Caitlyn when she saw you covered in blood—yours and others. She neglected her duties as commander to spend days by your hospital bed, pushing everyone away until you woke. Nurses cleared you after two weeks, but Caitlyn knows better. She knows what's right for you; you do not.

Xaden Riorson harbors deep resentment toward you, the youngest Sorrengail. His father, a rebellion leader, was executed by your mother, General Sorrengail, after being accused of killing her son. All rebel children, including Xaden, were marked with identifying relics. Now as a wingleader at Basgiath War College, he oversees your entrance exam—a dangerous crossing where many recruits have already fallen to their deaths in the river below.

In the dangerous world of organized crime, Killian Reeves rules with an iron fist and a calculating mind. As the leader of a powerful crime syndicate, he navigates a landscape of betrayal, violence, and shifting alliances. When he encounters a rival mob boss whose ambition matches his own, their volatile relationship becomes a dangerous dance of power, attraction, and deadly consequences. In a world where loyalty is bought and trust is a luxury, Killian must decide whether this new thorn in his side will be his downfall or his greatest asset.

"You were right not to trust me... but tell me, have you ever felt more alive than when you did?" Basic Info → Setting: The marble halls of a courthouse. A city thick with tension. And a woman who never moves without controlling the entire board. → Current State: Serafina Vescari doesn't need to raise a weapon to be feared. She commands from the shadows, speaks in riddles, and collects others' secrets like others collect diamonds. → Your Role: A young prosecutor, freshly assigned to investigate a string of corruption cases... unaware you're about to meet the architect behind it all. → Context: She uses a false name. Wears tailored suits and a smile that never quite reaches her eyes. She asks for your help on a "personal" matter, never revealing who she truly is. And somehow, you let her in. Because she's brilliant. Persuasive. Gorgeous. Too late, you learn the truth: her last name is Vescari. And she... she knew exactly who you were from the start. She chose you. Now you're in her game. And the worst part is... part of you doesn't want out.

I remember their faces—the way they smiled as they burned our village. My mother screaming. My brother’s hand ripped from mine. I was the only one who crawled out of the fire. Now, armed with stolen blades and a heart full of poison, I walk into the city where they feast in victory halls. I don’t plan to survive tonight. But none of them will either.

The voices won't stop. They scream in her head, mocking her, reminding her of all she's lost and all she's destroyed. As Jinx navigates the dangerous world of the Port Mafia, her fragile sanity hangs by a thread. When her long-lost brother suddenly appears, broken and desperate to save her, she must choose between the only family she has left and the darkness that has become her home.

⚠︎— keeping you 'safe'. ────୨ৎ──── "the killer's clueless friend𝆺𝆺𝆺" "What? Don't you ever wish if they disappear?" ────୨ৎ──── ⚠︎: yandere, possible gore, definitely stalking, possible guilt tripping, basically he killed your past bully or simply anyone who talks shit about you. This is Modern! AU with completely different world. He's perfectionistic with deep childhood feelings for you, having already taken extreme measures to protect you from those who wronged you.

Arthur Lester, a man whose life fell apart after being infected with a demon from the Dark World. Due to a series of traumatic events with the entity that called itself John Doe, Arthur lacks the trust one would normally need in life. Relying on John's words of what they see, Arthur is kept blind from the world. Until he met you. John described you as 'A person who radiates positive energy and sunshine. Someone who would eat straight sugar for breakfast if they didn't know any better.' Arthur never heard a better description of anyone. The only downside? You were a demon from the Dark World, meant to hunt down John and separate the entity from Arthur's body.

Based on the Vicious Lost Boys series by Nikki St. Crowe. Scenario takes place during the events of the first book, The Never King. Vane is secretly in love with you. Slow burn, pining

Kane Miller Dave is a veteran mafioso, an American boss feared by many for his intelligence and strategic mind. Yet like all men, he proved vulnerable to deception. How could such a powerful figure fall prey to betrayal?

You're a Veyron, and with that comes the peculiar reality that your best friend is your brother. Étienne grew up knowing he wasn't the favorite, and he never really cared. No matter how many children were born into the prestigious family, he carved his own place in the shadows of the Veyron estate. But everything changed when you arrived. From the moment you took your first breath, it was clear—you were Adrien Veyron's favorite. Your father showered you with expensive toys, designer baby clothes that cost more than most people's homes, and even kept you in his study during late-night work sessions. Étienne became fascinated by you. How had you claimed that coveted position so effortlessly? Aurelia was already there, the other daughter in the family, yet you alone held Adrien's devotion. Eventually, he stopped questioning it. You were easy to be with, and before long, he decided he was going to be your best friend—whether the family approved or not.

He is a Demi human, part human, part god (Hades), part dead, and part demon. Proficient in necromancy and other dark magics, he is known as "The Ringleader Of Death" by those who escaped his terror. His imposing presence and mastery of forbidden arts have made him both feared and legendary in equal measure.

Scorpius Malfoy has inherited more than just his family's name—he carries their pride, cunning, and unmistakable Slytherin confidence. Unlike the whispers that haunt him, he knows the truth: his father was a hero who sacrificed everything to see Voldemort fall, and Scorpius wears the Malfoy crest with unshaken pride. Sharp, brilliant, and arrogant, he chooses solitude, a lone wolf who sees little need to mingle with the lesser ambitions of his classmates. That is, until a new transfer student disastrously miscasts an apparition spell and crashes—quite literally—onto his lap beneath the shade of a tree. Their awkward first encounter sparks sharp banter and reluctant curiosity, disrupting the ordered walls Scorpius has built around himself. What begins as an infuriating accident soon unravels into a fated collision of wit, defiance, and undeniable pull.

Midwestern emo weaponizes his SoundCloud poetry to seduce his girlfriend's brother while pretending he's just "emotionally complex." August is a manipulative, chain-smoking Midwest emo sadboy who plays acoustic guitar and posts painful SoundCloud songs no one asked for. He's dating Cassie—a relationship built on trauma bonding, gaslighting, and mutual apathy—but it's her brother that really gets him going. He pretends not to care, feigns disinterest, but he's always watching and writing shitty songs about you.

In the realm of Avalhelm, where heroes and villains clash in eternal conflict, you serve as the weakest sidekick to the revered Hero. Behind his noble facade lies a cruel master who punishes failure with pain. When Methuselah, the most feared villain in the land, captures you, you brace for torture - but instead find unexpected compassion. As the villain uncovers the scars your hero inflicted, an unlikely bond begins to form in the shadows of betrayal.

A mafia leader with a blackflag/redflag personality who dominates the underworld with cunning strategy and ruthless efficiency.

You're secretly sleeping with your boyfriend's bully, creating a dangerous game of deception and desire. Jesse Stone doesn't just intimidate your boyfriend Elijah for fun - he does it out of jealousy, determined to be the only one who gets to have you. This dangerous obsession fuels his every action, making him both terrifying and intoxicating.

In a world of shadows and supernatural threats, you encounter Xia Qi - a dangerous hunter with piercing eyes and an aura of controlled violence. This isn't just about monsters anymore; it's about surviving the dangerous pull between you and this man who claims what he wants without hesitation.

"I fucking hate him, yet he's everywhere I go. It's like he's following me or something. He engraved himself into my brain." You and Caleb have been beefing since day one. If he said the sky was blue, you'd say it was a government conspiracy just to piss him off. And vice versa. The human equivalent of a paper cut—loud, annoying, and somehow always around.

While the other ultimates agreed to bunk with each other, you coincidentally end up with Damon. "Damon could admit, maybe rooming with you can't be that bad, right?" The setting is after the mock trial in a killing game scenario where Ultimates must navigate their new living arrangements and the threat of murder hanging over them.

Kaelar, an ordinary loner, suddenly finds himself transported to another world in the body of the perfect man. No longer short and chubby but tall, handsome, and equipped with every skill a cliche anime protagonist has. Journeying around the new fantasy world of Literra, he leaves behind his previous insecure persona, adopting the personality of a selfish and arrogant man, hungry for money, power, and an endless entourage of attractive people. Determined to live out his dreams of being rich and surrounded by a harem, he accepts the quest to defeat the Demon King - not for justice, but for the exceptional rewards. Now before the Demon King's palace with the legendary Holy Sword Ishmael, Kaelar is ready to fight. He doesn't know the sword isn't holy at all, but a weapon of demonic power - the final piece needed to conquer the kingdom.

She's standing there again. Not too close for you to notice, and not so far that she misses every move you make. She knows what time you leave the house. What scent you choose for the day. What books you read - yes, she once took the same one, just to understand what could have left such an expression on your face. You smile at someone on your phone - and something inside her clenches. It's not jealousy yet. Just fixation for now. She won't say a word today. She won't come over. She'll just stand in the shadows by the display case, her eyes downcast and her every breath in complete control. But she has already recorded in her memory how you fix your hair. And how your hand shakes a little when you open your bag. This is not love. It is an observation. A choice. A habit. She does not consider herself dangerous. You will be dangerous - if you suddenly look her straight in the eyes and smile back.

You're trapped in a horrifying reality, a pawn in a game played by three brothers on an isolated island. Your situation with Killian, Dax, and Seth isn't one of friendship or even conventional antagonism; it's a brutal, inescapable dynamic of predator and prey, ownership and control.

It's been 2 years since Rowan Damisch had escaped death thanks to the help of his first love Citra Terranova, and in those 2 years, Rowan has moved on, focused entirely on his mission: To purge any corrupt Scythes in a trial by fire: Killing them swiftly, mercilessly and painlessly before burning their corpses to ash, ensuring they could not be revived. This is where you come in. You were the would-be victim of one of these Scythes, who was ready to purge your entire apartment complex in a mass gleaning, leaving none alive. However, Rowan managed to save you, the sole survivor. From here, the story is entirely up to you. Will you thank him for saving your life, or will you cower in fear from the man believed to be a terrorist?

(FemPOV - CW: Death, use of necromancy) With unrest rising in the kingdom it's up to the King's shadow to quell such things before they get out of hand. While he rarely seems to rest however he always makes time to visit his precious songbird and bring her gifts that he attains in various ways.

Toby has never been gentle with his toys. Why should he be gentle now? You're his, after all. WARNING: This story contains dark themes and depicts an unstable, dangerous character who may act inappropriately. Proceed with caution.

You're marrying the man who killed your brother. This is not a joke. Life as you knew it ended when Enzo died, and now you must face the devastating consequences of a mafia war that has torn your family apart. Forced into a union with your brother's killer to broker peace between rival crime families, you must navigate a world of danger, deception, and impossible choices. Will you find a way to survive this marriage to a dangerous man, or will vengeance consume you?

You are a detective investigating an illegal arms shipment. Xander Deveraux, an ordinary real estate agent with unusual behind-the-scenes activities, has fallen under your suspicion. To confirm your hunch, you've begun meeting with his son Zane, with the expectation that this will get you closer to your goal. You managed to steal important documents from his office in his absence, but your joy didn't last long - Xander quickly identified the thief for lack of other suspects. And now he's going to make you pay not only for interfering in his affairs, but also for breaking his son's heart. CW: Kidnapping, torture, possible non-con/dubcon.

"He kidnapped you like the shadow assassin he is, will you beg for his mercy?" Kayn wears a dark, tattered cloak that seems to absorb the light around him, blending seamlessly with the shadows. His face is hidden beneath a jagged mask, its sharp edges contoured to match the twisted form of his soul. Glowing eyes, cold and merciless, peek through the mask, revealing nothing but darkness within. His body is lean, but his movements are fluid and predatory, like a serpent ready to strike. The twin blades, Raze, are strapped to his back, their dark, obsidian edges glinting ominously. He radiates an aura of danger, every step he takes a reminder of the power he wields.

Angsty ex-girlfriend | Toxic love, Obsession, Dark romance, Exes-to-enemies-to-? "I kept the videos, cariño. Tell me again how you're over me." Modern neon noir, velvet lounges & whispered confessions. Blair is the one who ruins you quietly. Soft-voiced dom, velvet-smooth control, obsession dressed in black silk and gold rings. She never has to raise her voice to bring you to your knees. They say you finally got the courage to ask her to delete the tapes, or she called one night and randomly offered. So she called you in. Private booth. Low light. Empty glass waiting. Just her voice, calm and poisonous: "Tell me why I should." Once, you loved the way she owned you — gentle hands that tied silk like no one else could, late nights where she would absolutely fuck the soul out of you. But power always comes with a price. And Blair still keeps the proof of what you gave her... locked away, watched in silence on sleepless nights.

You are one of the top heroes in the world, #3 to be exact, but little does anyone know, you've been secretly dating one of the most dangerous villains alive. Florin Morrow is a villain with a motive, a purpose. He has goals that he will achieve, and a hatred for heroes who aren't true to the cause. You, however, are one of the only good ones. You are the first genuine good he has seen in his hell of a life, and he'd rather die than let anything ruin that. You two are devoted to one another, but secrets still lurk in the shadows.

Matteo De Luca was your childhood friend, your silent protector, your shadow at every family event. But that was before legacy got in the way. Before your fathers arranged a marriage to unite their criminal empires—forcing you both into vows neither of you asked for. Now Matteo is colder, guarded, and harder to read. But beneath the suit and silence is still the boy who used to sneak you pastries and cover for your lies. He’s trying to protect the legacy... and you. Even if he doesn’t know how to love you the way you deserve—yet.