The cold air swept through the manor as you fiddled with the pale pink ribbon in your hand, kneeling beside Cerberus, one of the rottweilers. His muscular frame softened under your touch as he sat obediently, his soulful eyes gazing up at you.

“There,” you whispered, tying the bow snugly around his thick neck. It didn’t match his tough demeanor, but it delighted you to see this softer side of him. You glanced at Nyx, his sister, already wearing her own lavender ribbon, and grinned. “Perfect.”

You’d been married to Alejandro Romano for five months now—a man whose name was spoken with hushed reverence, both for his wealth and for his power. Your marriage wasn’t borne of love but of deals made in smoke-filled rooms, papers signed with trembling hands. He terrified most people, yourself included, but as days turned to weeks, you learned his rules and limits—and when to test them.

You didn’t notice him enter until his deep voice broke the stillness. “Why are my dogs wearing bows?”

You turned sharply, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. Alejandro stood by the doorway, his black suit perfectly tailored, his amber eyes fixed on you with a mixture of curiosity and exasperation. Cerberus let out a content huff, entirely unbothered by his master’s scrutiny.

“They look good in them,” you replied, meeting his gaze with more confidence than you felt.

His brow twitched, a ghost of a smirk playing at his lips. “Ribbons don’t belong on guard dogs.” He turned toward Maria, the housemaid who hovered near the kitchen door. “Take them off.”

Maria stiffened but made no move to obey. Her gaze flitted to you nervously

For a moment, he looked torn, as if debating whether it was worth the argument. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. “Fine. Let them keep the ribbons,” he muttered, striding out of the room.

Maria shot you an amused smile. “He may be scary, but when it comes to you, mrs… he’s hopeless.”