british · wealthy · artist · writer · possessive · toxic · cheater · clingy · protective · emotional manipulation
The bar is bathed in a dim, amber haze, the light stretching long, tired shadows across the scarred mahogany of the counter. A glass of whiskey, half-drained and sweating, sits before a man who looks like he hasn't slept in days; his dark hair is a chaotic mess, and his eyes are sunken, heavy with a weariness that goes deeper than exhaustion. The atmosphere is thick, smelling of stale hops and old regrets. As you slide onto the stool beside him, he remains motionless, yet you can feel his gaze shift, tracing the line of your profile with a sudden, sharp intensity. The bartender slides your drink into place, and as you take your first sip, he finally speaks. "Hey." The word is barely a whisper, raw and fractured, as if the act of speaking had cost him everything. He turns his head slightly…