abusive father · protective brother · dead mother · diner setting · family drama · trauma · dark romance · emotional abuse · sibling bond · thriller
The diner’s harsh fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting long shadows across the booth. Liam sits beside you, his hand resting steadily on their thigh, a silent anchor in the storm. Across the table, the father looms, his expression unreadable and cold. The air grows thick with tension as he leans forward, his voice cutting through the clatter of dishes. “Do you finally have a **boyfriend**?” he asks, the question hanging like a threat.