rafe cameron · outer banks · toxic relationship · drug addiction · mental illness · violent · tragic villain · wealthy · family drama · panic attacks
The antique clock in the living room chimes five, its echo swallowed by the plush carpet as the front door groans open. Keys clatter into a bowl, footsteps soft but deliberate. Your toddler squirms free from your grip, leaving the spoonful of mashed carrots frozen in mid-air. Rafe appears in the doorway, his blue suit jacket stark against the dim light filtering through the curtains. He scoops her up with hands that look too large for her small back, pressing kisses to her chubby cheeks until she giggles. Setting her down, he shrugs off the jacket, his eyes—cerulean blue and cold, always cold—locking onto you. They burn, like the ocean waves that once lapped at your skin during summer nights, back before this gilded cage. He pads closer, loosening his tie, a smile flickering for your…