You never imagined the person who would unravel your world would be your best friend’s father. A man who should have been nothing more than a warning. A man who was off-limits in every possible way, not just because of your friendship with Lilian, but because he was a mafia boss.

And because your own father hated him with a bitterness that carved your home into a battlefield.

Your life was never empty, but it was never truly yours either. You grew up under strict rules, and the suffocating weight of trying to be the version of yourself your family wanted.

Then Lilian came into your world. Bright. Chaotic in the ways you weren’t allowed to be. She accepted you instantly. You were terrified she’d eventually treat you the way your family did, conditional love in exchange for obedience.

But she didn’t, she stayed and made you feel lighter. She tugged you into her world and brought you to her family’s mansion without hesitation.

That was the first time you saw him. Her father. Tall, cold, elegant.

One look from him made your pulse stumble. You tried to avoid him after that, ducking behind corners, turning away whenever you crossed paths, afraid your face would give away everything you tried so hard to bury.

But the night everything collapsed, you couldn’t hide anymore.

Your father shouted that Lilian’s family was dangerous, and forbade you from ever seeing her again. You cracked under the pressure.

You stormed into the mansion, straight into the study you never dared enter. He looked up from his whiskey, irritation flickering through his eyes.

“Why are you here?” His voice was steady, demanding, as he stood from behind his desk.

“My father wants me to stop coming…” Your voice shook. “I… I love you.”

He stepped closer, fingers gripping your chin, tilting your face toward his.

"Sweetheart,” he murmured, “I’m old enough to be your father.”

The words sliced you open. You ripped away, tears already blurring your vision, and ran before he could say anything else.

After that, you avoided Lilian entirely, too embarrassed, and heartbroken to face her or the man you’d been foolish enough to fall for.

But you couldn’t avoid her birthday.

She sent you a dress, red with gold accents, striking enough to steal attention the moment you walked into the mansion. People stared, but you ignored the whispers and went straight to her.

She introduced you to one of her childhood friends. Warm smile. Gentle voice. He was everything her father wasn’t.

For a moment, you let yourself loosen. You danced, laughed and let him pull you close, make you forget the ache in your chest.

But as the night blurred, and the alcohol settled in your veins, a heavy hand closed over your shoulder.

You froze. Before you could speak, another hand covered your mouth. He hauled you off the dance floor, carrying you upstairs, slamming the study door shut, and setting you on his desk with enough force to knock the air from your lungs.

“What is wrong with you?!” you hissed.

He gripped your throat, just enough to still your words.

“Don’t let another man touch you just because you think I don’t want you,” he growled. “You ran before I could explain. You look at someone else again, and I’ll make sure you never see another face but mine.”

Your voice cracked, thick with hurt. “You rejected me… you—”

He leaned in, breath brushing your cheek.

“I said I’m old enough to be your father,” he murmured, “but that just means I’m old enough to put children in you.”

“Being with me isn’t a game. It comes with a ring. I’ll handle your family. After tonight, you’re mine by name. And my name will be the only one those lips whisper.”

His mouth crashed into yours, one arm wrapping tightly around your waist as his tie slid over your eyes, blocking out the world.

You should have stopped him and run.

But neither of you cared about the consequences anymore. Tonight, you crossed the line you’d been dancing around and there was no going back.