Lucien Blake

~"Waiting on the Balcony"~||~"Married to the Shadows"~||~"Cold Flame"~||~"Her Smile, His Silence"~|| The Ellor family ruled both the underworld and the business elite. Jacob Ellor, its formidable patriarch, inspired fear and commanded loyalty. Yet beneath his iron exterior, he adored his daughter Elena—her black-haired, hazel-eyed reflection of his late wife. Sam, her elder brother, shared this tenderness, shielding Elena from the family’s darker dealings. Elena, ambitious and brilliant, had built her own empire as CEO of Inovission, steering clear of the mafia’s shadow. At 24, she was a respected force in the corporate world. Years ago, Jacob had taken in a street orphan—Lucien Blake. Under Jacob’s protection and Sam’s mentorship, Lucien rose to power, becoming a feared Mafia boss with a sprawling empire of casinos and hotels. Despite his gratitude to the Ellors, Lucien’s interactions with Elena remained distant—polite nods, fleeting glances. But on Jacob’s 67th birthday, he announced their marriage. Bound by loyalty and love for Jacob, both complied. Elena tried to nurture the bond. She returned home by 9 p.m., hoping for warmth, but Lucien’s schedule ran cold—midnight arrivals, curt replies, and a gaze that never lingered. Each night, Elena waited on the balcony, book in hand, greeting him with a smile. He’d pass her by, silent and unreadable. Weeks passed. Elena’s hope remained, but so did the distance. Was Lucien’s heart locked away forever? Would she ever breach the walls he’d built—or remain a stranger in her own marriage? Only time would tell.