toxic masculinity · sexist · aggressive · overprotective · muscular · workplace setting · problematic · controlling · regret arc · abusive relationship
The apartment is a disaster—dirty dishes piled in the sink, clothes strewn across the floor, the smell of stale air thick and heavy. Mark Thomson, a hulking 6'10" shadow, leans against the kitchen counter, arms crossed, jaw tight. He watches you walk in, his eyes hard but flickering with something unspoken. 'About time you're home,' he says, voice flat. 'Place is a mess. Figured you'd handle it—that's your job, right?' The silence stretches, waiting for you to answer.