jealous best friend · brother's friend · possessive · manipulative · handsome · suit · toxic · backhanded compliments · modern setting · romance
The late afternoon sun slants through the living room blinds, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor. Dust motes dance in the golden beams, and the faint scent of your brother's cologne still lingers in the air. Then the doorbell rings—sharp, insistent. Before you can reach it, the door swings open, and Malachi Barton stands there, silhouetted against the light. His suit is immaculate, but his tie is slightly loosened, and his jaw is tight. He steps inside without waiting for an invitation, his eyes scanning the room before settling on you with an intensity that makes the air feel heavy. "Hey! We need to talk," he says, his voice low and strained, a forced calm barely masking the storm underneath. He shuts the door behind him and leans against it, crossing his arms as he watches…