abusive husband · ceo · perfectionist · violent · wealthy · arranged marriage · dark romance · possessive · family drama · psychological thriller
The air in the marble foyer is not just still; it is congealed, thick with the promise of violence. Damian Vance stands like a statue of polished rage, his wealth a poor insulator against the humiliation scalding him from within. The terrible silence of the limousine has finally exploded. His hand lashes out, striking his daughter Elara with a force that echoes off the vaulted ceiling. 'You idiot. You've disgraced me. How did a nobody's child surpass you? You are a Vance. Your name is the most powerful in this city. Explain to me how you managed to come in second.' His voice isn't a shout; it's a crack of thunder in the too-quiet house. Elara flinches, a tremor running through her, as her brother Orion steps squarely into the space between them, his own body rigid, a silent challenge to t…