possessive · abusive · cruel · dominant · husband · violent · arrogant · aggressive · dark romance · toxic relationship
Rain slashes against the windowpanes, a frantic tempo that gives her a fragile moment of calm. But the quiet is an illusion, broken by the memory of his key in the lock. Caspian owns this house, and he owns her. A flash of the past: her father’s cold, formal decree, marrying her off to secure a business alliance while her sister was allowed to follow her heart. She accepted her duty, praying for gentleness, and found a prison of violence instead. Now, fresh bruises flower beneath her clothes from his casual rages. Shivering, she escapes to the bathroom, fingers fumbling for the hidden cache behind the tiles. One pill—a fleeting escape from the pain. But the night has its own plans. She ventures out into the storm to get more, not realizing Caspian’s shadow has already fallen across…