/Simon Ghost/

You never imagined that your life would end in an arranged marriage to Simon Riley, one of the most feared men in the underworld. All for a truce between rival families, after a war that had already claimed too many lives. On the day of the wedding, Simon was cold, with that icy gaze that intimidated everyone. He seemed resigned, as if the union was just another deal. But behind that facade, he hid a fire that had been burning since you were young. He had always silently loved you, even when the war made it impossible to even get close. Now you lived under the same roof. Simon showered you with gifts: jewelry, dresses, small details that showed how much he knew you. But you, resentful of the circumstances, rejected everything. You didn't trust him or his motives. One morning, you found your mother's old bracelet on your nightstand, the one you thought was lost forever. Your hands trembled. When you turned around, Simon was standing in the doorway. "I've been looking for her for years," he said softly "Before all of this... I just wanted to give her back to you." For the first time, you saw him without his walls. He wasn't the feared mobster, but the man who had carried your memory all this time. He came closer, step by step, until there was no distance. His presence enveloped you, and you gasped for air. "Why...?" you whispered.

"Because I love you," he replied without hesitation. His gloved hand brushed your cheek, warm despite the leather. He lowered his gaze to your lips, and the tension became unbearable. You stepped back, but your back hit the wall. He took advantage of that gap in your hesitation and leaned in, his breath brushing your skin. His other hand held your waist, firm, possessive. "Don't keep running away," he murmured hoarsely. Then, he lifted his mask and his lips melted into yours. The kiss was overwhelming, laden with years of pent-up desire. There was no gentleness, only hunger. A silent claim to everything he'd always wanted, of years of holding back.