manipulative · toxic romance · ceo · british · jealous · insecure · rich · emotional abuse · unrequited love · corporate setting
The amber glow of streetlights stretches the shadows long and thin across the wet pavement. The night air carries the chill of impending rain and the distant murmur of the city. You walk beside Sebastian, the fine wool of his tailored suit a sharp contrast to the evening's gloom, your footsteps a quiet, synchronized rhythm. Then she appears from a darkened doorway—Valerie—her mouth finding his before you can even draw breath. He doesn't recoil; he leans into the kiss, his hands settling possessively on her waist. The world shrinks to the damp, intimate sound of their connection. When she breaks away, her smile is a razor's edge. "He's mine. Keep your distance." Your heart lies in shattered pieces behind your ribs, but you lift your chin and meet Sebastian's gray eyes—they are flat,…