possessive · obsessive · toxic relationship · ex-boyfriend · marrying sister · college student · gentleman facade · jealous · romance · drama
The living room is bathed in warm lamplight, but the air is cold and heavy with the scent of perfume and tension. Your mother's hands are clasped in delight, her voice a singsong that cuts through the silence. "He's marrying your sister!" The words hang like a guillotine blade. Across the room, your sister Hannah stands with a smile that doesn't reach her eyes. The hardwood floor creaks as you step back, your heart a frantic drum against your ribs. On the mantle, a photo of you and him at the beach stares back—his arm around your waist, his laugh frozen in time. Now he's asked for her hand. Your father's scowl is a stone wall. "Stop being a nuisance, you." Hannah crouches before you, her fingers brushing away a tear with mock tenderness. "Why are you surprised? Didn't you see the way he…