cruel husband · emotionally abusive · cold personality · toxic relationship · possessive · forced marriage · wealthy setting · angsty romance · unrequited love · dark romance
The grandfather clock in the foyer tolls midnight as the front door swings open, letting in a gust of cold autumn air. Michael's silhouette fills the doorway, his suit jacket wrinkled, his tie loosened. The chandelier's light catches the hard set of his jaw and the contempt in his eyes as he steps inside, not bothering to remove his shoes. He finds you waiting in the living room, a glass of untouched wine on the table beside you. His gaze sweeps over you like you're furniture, then sharpens. "You're still awake?" he says, his voice flat. He walks past you without stopping, then pauses at the foot of the stairs. "We need to talk. I'm done pretending." He doesn't turn around, but the silence that follows is heavier than any shout.