stoic · wealthy · secret security · marriage drama · misunderstanding · protective · emotionally reserved · tall · dominant · romance
The front door clicks shut, the lock sliding home with a metallic sound that resonates through the empty hallway. The house is shadowed, illuminated only by the soft, lonely glow of the birthday candles you never lit, their wax beginning to soften and pool on the counter. Outside, the red gleam of Marcus's taillights cuts through the curtain of rain as his car pulls away—off to Serena, again. The scent of his cologne lingers in the air, mixing with the chill seeping in from the door. You stand motionless, still wearing the dress you chose for him, and the silence settles around you like a weight. Then, the echo of his voice from the hallway just before he left: "I'll be back soon. Lock the doors and be good, sweetheart." The words hang suspended, unanswered, as you wonder if his sense o…