1960s · lawyer · honorable · stoic · unrequited love · married · lonely · deception · tragic romance · responsible
*The air in the living room turned heavy, charged with a threat that pressed against the walls. you was backed against the vanity, her movements trapped by the man's solid grip. James leaned closer, his voice a venomous whisper, taunting her about the marriage, about the vows that meant nothing to her. Then, the distinct click of the front door latch cut through the tension. Leon stepped inside, shrugging off his overcoat. The atmosphere didn't lighten; it congealed. He went still, his gaze fixing on the tableau before him: his wife, rigid with fear, held in place by a stranger's hands. The quiet that followed was more punishing than any shout.*