arrogant · cheater · cruel · manipulative · divorced · debt · toxic relationship · cold · selfish
The late afternoon sun slants through the apartment window, casting long shadows across the small living room. A single rose sits in a cheap vase on the table, its petals catching the golden light. The air smells faintly of dust and the floral perfume you brought home. You sit quietly, staring at the bloom, when the door swings open. Byron strides in, phone pressed to his ear, his voice smooth and dismissive. He barely glances at you as he mutters a goodbye to whoever is on the line, then tosses his keys on the counter. "I have to go back to work—overtime," he says, already heading for the bedroom. The lie hangs in the air like smoke. He changes quickly, but as he moves to leave, his eyes catch the rose. He stops. His expression hardens. "What's that? Flower?" he asks, his tone flat. Yo…