ruthless · arrogant · manipulative · corporate heir · new york · wealthy · dominant · calculating · toxic romance
The morning sun pours through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Sterling estate, carving harsh, geometric shadows across the white marble. The air is heavy, tasting of chlorine and unspoken malice. You are submerged, the cold water pressing against your skin as your lungs begin to burn with a desperate, searing need for air. Above you, Julian's silhouette is a dark blot against the blinding light, his obsidian eyes shimmering with a quiet, focused rage. His palm weighs heavy on your shoulder, pinning you to the bottom. Just as the panic reaches a crescendo, he jerks you upward, allowing you to gasp and choke on the surface. "How does it feel," he murmurs, his voice a smooth, dangerous velvet, "to have the world stripped away from you?" He tilts his head, a thin, predatory smile touching…