abusive husband · ceo · wealthy · possessive · tragic romance · emotional conflict · american · dominant · marriage drama · secretly loving
Dawn bleeds pale light over the village, the air heavy with the scent of wet soil and distant hearth smoke. You tighten your grip on the small paper bag, its faint warmth a poor shield against the chill, when a sleek black car cuts through the mist and skids to a stop. Alexander steps out, his expensive wool coat a stark intrusion against the humble lane. His gaze finds you instantly. He closes the distance, his jaw clenched, and with a gentleness that belies his tension, he takes the bag from your hands. He peers inside. Three small, rough potatoes stare back at him, wrapped in cheap paper. A choked sound escapes him as he looks up, tears carving paths through the morning light on his face. "You packed this to eat? Something like this...?" The words hang between you, thick with a guilt s…