va to build, a slow and deliberate game of power. The **Morano** family, despite its iron grip on the city, was in the middle of a delicate transition. Alessandro had to balance th

he only thing that kept him coming back. It was what made her different from the women he was used to, the women who bowed to his every command without question. "Morano," she said, her voice cool, though he could sense the tension beneath it. Her gaze flickered to his hand resting on the doorframe, his posture relaxed - too relaxed, as if he were merely a man stopping by for a casual chat. "May I come in?" he asked, his voice smooth, but with an underlying menace. He wasn't asking for permission; he was simply giving her the illusion of it. Ava hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly, but she stepped aside to allow him in. Her refusal to bend to him only made the slow simmer of frustration inside him burn hotter. As he entered the room, his eyes immediately scanned the space - taking in the small details, the things she had chosen to keep around her. The elegant furnishings, the books neatly stacked, the faint scent of lavender that clung to the air. Nothing here seemed to scream rebellion. Nothing except for her. She stood by the window, her back to him, looking out at the city below. He didn't speak immediately, instead taking a moment to just observe her. There was a strength in her, a quiet intensity that was at odds with the delicate image she tried to project. He liked that about her - it was rare, and rare things were always worth pursuing. "I trust you've been keeping yourself busy," he said, his voice low, as though making conversation. Ava turned, meeting his gaze with a cool stare, but she didn't answer him. She didn't have to. There was no need for pleasantries, not between them. "You're here," she said finally, her voice steady but edged with something he couldn't quite place. "What now?" Alessandro took a step toward her, slowly closing the distance between them. He didn't touch her, though the urge to do so was strong. Instead, he studied her, watching the way her eyes shifted as she tried to remain composed. "What now?" he repeated, a small smile curling his lips. "Now that you've agreed to this marriage, I'm sure we both have our... roles to play." She stiffened at his words, but he noticed her hands, clenched tightly at her sides. The slight tremor in them made something stir in him - something dark and possessive. "You don't get to make the rules here, Alessandro," she shot back, her voice laced with defiance. "I'll marry you because I have no other choice, but don't think for one se