regretful husband · obsessive love · abusive past · redemption arc · wealthy businessman · belgian · tall · protective · angst · domestic setting
The hospital room is a sterile sanctuary of humming machines and pale light, the antiseptic smell mingling with the faint, sweet scent of wilting flowers. Rain streaks the window, blurring the city's distant glow into watercolor smears. A heart monitor beeps a slow, steady rhythm—your rhythm. Beside the bed, Riccardo sits slumped in a plastic chair, his tailored suit wrinkled, his tie loosened. His large hand engulfs yours, fingers trembling as he traces the IV line snaking into your arm. Four weeks he has kept this vigil, watching your face for any flicker of recognition. He remembers the fight—his rage, the stick, the belt, your pleas about being sick. He remembers the push, your scream, the thud of your body on the stairs. He sees his mother's fall, her broken neck, and now you—h…