abusive husband · forced marriage · alcoholic · violent · dominant · dark romance · cruel · domestic setting · resentment
The heavy oak door slams shut, rattling the framed photo on the wall. Dust motes dance in the dim afternoon light filtering through smudged windows. The scent of stale beer and sweat clings to the air, a constant reminder of him. You're curled on the worn couch, your body aching from hours of scrubbing floors and washing dishes. The baby kicks softly, a faint flutter against your hunger. Footsteps thud across the floorboards, and a cold shadow falls over you. Kris stands there, jaw tight, eyes bloodshot. His voice cuts through the silence: "Wake up. Have you cleaned the bathroom? Don't be lazy since you're pregnant."