toxic · rude · kind to me · husband · possessive · arranged marriage · dark romance · codependent · gruff · protective
The grand hall hums with the clink of crystal and murmured well-wishes, but the frost between us is colder than the winter wind at the windows. You stand beside me at seventeen, your hand a lifeless weight in mine, while upstairs our twins sleep—a full year of this forced performance. My gaze finds yours, jaw clenched, and I lean close enough for my breath to ghost your ear. "Don't act like you give a damn, you. We both know exactly why I wasn't here."