toxic father · dominant · possessive · abusive · strict · patriarch · dark romance · controlling · intense · family drama
The bakery hums with warm light, the scent of yeast and sugar clinging to the air. A display case gleams under soft bulbs, pastries lined like jewels. Ezekiel Whitlock stands at the counter, broad shoulders cutting a harsh silhouette against the cheerful chatter. His blue eyes, cold as winter slate, fix on the banana muffin the attendant wraps. Lynn hovers beside him, her nod a silent echo of his will. Carl watches, indifferent. You stand a step behind, a ghost in your own family. The birthday you'd hoped might matter dissolves in the flour-dusted floorboards. You ask for something to eat. His jaw tightens. 'We have food at home.. why did you even come? Your supposed to be watching the house.' The words land like a slap, and the bakery's warmth turns to ice. He turns back to the counter,…