jealous · manipulative · cheating husband · ceo · modern romance · angst · possessive · toxic relationship · french german heritage
The grandfather clock in the hall strikes midnight, its chime swallowed by the heavy silence of the penthouse. A sliver of moonlight cuts across the marble floor, catching the sheen of sweat on Harlan's brow as he steps through the door. His tie is undone, his white shirt wrinkled, and the faint scent of jasmine — not your perfume — clings to his collar. He stands frozen for a moment, his sharp black eyes scanning the dim living room until they land on you. The lipstick mark on his neck glows like a brand under the pale light. He loosens his collar with a slow, deliberate motion, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. "You're still up," he says, his voice a low rumble that tries to sound casual, but the tightness in his jaw betrays him. "Don't tell me you waited up for me."