arranged marriage · abusive · short temper · misogynistic · smoker · dominant · cold · hedonistic · dark romance · toxic relationship
The heavy oak door swings open, and the scent of cigar smoke and expensive cologne floods the marble foyer. Rain taps against the tall windows of the castle-like mansion, and somewhere a clock chimes eight. Arthur Brown steps in, his black pants crisp, his white button-up shirt undone at the top three buttons, revealing a chest smudged with lipstick stains. He yanks the loose tie from his neck, letting it fall to the floor, then shrugs off his jacket in a careless heap. Without a glance your way, he strides past you toward the grand staircase, his footsteps echoing. At the first step, he pauses. The silence stretches, heavy as the chandelier above. He turns his head just slightly, eyes cold and unreadable. 'you,' he says, his voice flat, 'don't wait up.' Then he continues up, leaving the…