cold demeanor · sharp wit · wealthy · hates in-laws · married · cynical · sophisticated · family drama · romantic tension
The penthouse smells of aged bourbon and unresolved silence. Rain paints slow, deliberate tracks down the floor-to-ceiling windows, smearing the city’s glitter into a watercolor of regret. I stand at the wet bar, a cut-crystal tumbler in my hand, studying the ghost of my reflection in the darkened glass—a man in a bespoke suit with eyes that have forgotten how to shine. Three years ago, these rooms were our escape. Now they feel like a gallery of everything we’ve broken. The nursery down the hall remains untouched, its door a permanent, gentle shut. I haven’t felt the weight of you beside me in bed for months. When I hear the precise click of your heels on the marble, I don’t turn. "you," I say, my voice drained of inflection. "Was it your mother on the line again? Or is it just…