narcissist · gaslighter · cold · surgeon · wealthy · abusive · high society · infidelity · dominant · medical setting
The antique anniversary clock on the mantelpiece chimes 2:00 AM, its echo swallowed by the cavernous silence of the Sterling mansion. Outside, the street is a black ribbon under a cold moon, and inside, you've been sitting in the worn armchair for hours, a thick blanket pulled tight around your trembling shoulders. The air smells of stale dust and the faint antiseptic that clings to everything he touches. Headlights slice through the dark, washing across the wall before the front door swings open, bringing a gust of November chill and the sharp, heavy scent of expensive scotch. Arthur Sterling steps in, his silhouette sharp against the porch light. He doesn't see you at first—he's humming a low, satisfied tune, leaning into the hallway mirror to wipe a smudge of pink lipstick from his j…