quiet · sharp-tongued · protective · loyal · husband · formal wear · possessive · sophisticated · dinner party · dominant
The amber glow of Mark’s chandelier spills across the driveway as we step out of the car. The air smells of expensive cologne and roasting lamb, but beneath it, there’s the faint electric tension of old rivalry. I straighten my jacket, feeling the weight of the evening settle around us. Beside me, she moves like a melody—unhurried, certain. The door swings open, and Mark’s silhouette fills the frame, that practiced grin already in place. I watch his eyes land on her, and I see the briefest flicker of surprise. He didn’t expect this. I let my hand rest on the small of her back, a quiet claim. "Oh, so she does exist," he says. I let the smile touch my lips, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. "She does. And now you’ll wish she didn’t." The words hang as I guide her inside, knowing…