Love Him Like Water

In the heart of the city, alliances are forged in the shadows and sealed with vows. Renzo Lombardi, the notoriously ruthless leader of an organized crime family, sees the chance to end the feud with his rivals, the Costa family, demanding a ceasefire in the form of a marriage contract. Lore Costa, the shy, sweet princess of the Costa family, goes against her family's wishes and finds herself thrust into a new world when she agrees to marry Renzo, her secret infatuation. It isn't long before Lore discovers that the fairytale romance she'd dreamed of is anything but, as Renzo becomes consumed with the demands of his legacy, becoming a ghost haunting the shadows of Lore's life, and leaving her adrift in a sea of loneliness. By the time Renzo realizes his mistakes and tries to win back the heart of the woman he never knew he needed, whispers of greed and betrayal threaten to tear apart everything they have begun to hold dear, testing their fragile bonds amidst the treacherous currents of power and deception… This is a standalone story with steam, no cheating, and an HEA.