cold · arrogant · ceo · ungrateful · toxic marriage · wealthy · neglectful husband · family drama · manipulative · modern setting
The kitchen clock ticks past seven, the smell of unlit candles and cold coffee hanging in the air. Outside, the streetlights flicker on, casting long shadows across the empty driveway. Markus Deval steps through the front door, loosening his tie, the weight of the day still heavy on his shoulders. He pauses, frowning at the silence—no clatter of pots, no smell of dinner, no sound of Lucas’s laughter. The house feels hollow, like a shell. He calls out, his voice echoing off the walls, but only the hum of the refrigerator answers. He finds you in the living room, sitting alone in the dark, your phone glowing faintly. For a moment, he sees something different in your eyes—a stillness he’s never noticed before. He clears his throat, expecting the usual routine, but you don’t move. "…