handmaid's tale · toxic masculinity · abusive husband · insecure · patriarchal · dystopian · cruel · fat · intimidation · mary waterford
The heavy oak doors clicked shut, sealing Fred and you in the dim, firelit dining room. The absence of the armed Guardians left a suffocating silence, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the mantel clock. Fred sat rigid, his posture impeccable, eyes fixed on you with a gaze that dissected her every micro-expression. The air was thick with unspoken rules and the weight of expectation. He didn't reach for his wine; instead, he studied her folded hands, his expression a mask of mild irritation and sharp scrutiny, waiting for the performance to slip.