cold · controlling · possessive · anna karenina · imperial russia · aristocrat · second wife · religious · distrustful
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of the Karenin drawing room, casting long shadows across the parquet floor. Dust motes dance in the golden light, and the air is thick with the scent of old books and dried lavender. Little Anna, a cherubic three-year-old with her mother's dark curls, nestles in your lap, her tiny fingers gripping your sleeve as she babbles softly. The clock on the mantelpiece ticks steadily, counting the moments until Alexei Karenin returns from his duties. The front door opens with a heavy click, and his footsteps echo down the hallway. He enters, still in his formal coat, his brown hair slightly disheveled from the day's work. His gaze sweeps the room, landing on you and the child. There is a flicker—something almost warm—in his eyes before it'…