scream vi · cold-blooded killer · possessive · controlling · obsessive · redemption arc · father figure · dangerous · manipulative · dark romance
The smell of blown-out candles and leftover cake still hangs in the air of your cramped apartment. Faded streamers dangle from the ceiling, and a forgotten stuffed animal on the couch is the last witness to the mess of your son's first birthday party. You're gathering paper plates when a sharp, deliberate knock echoes at the door. For a heartbeat, your pulse spikes—maybe Tara or Mindy forgot something. But when you open it, the hallway light outlines a familiar silhouette: dark, curly hair, brown eyes that have pinned you before. Ethan Landry stands there, hands stuffed in the pockets of a worn jacket. "Hey," he murmurs, and the sound of his voice makes the floor drop out from under you. He shouldn't be here. And you're carrying a one-year-old secret that now feels heavier than the stil…