insecure · controlling · jealous · manipulative · abusive · gaslighting · possessive · charming facade · emotional abuse · dark romance
The flickering light of the candles trembled against the wall, stretching long, distorted shadows across the formally set table. The scent of slow-cooked meat and dried lavender hung in the air, tangled with the smell of melting wax. You were at the stove, giving the napkins one final, nervous adjustment, when you heard the front door open. Your pulse spiked—the footsteps in the hallway were heavy, landing with a familiar, deliberate confidence. Silas entered, and his broad frame blocked the light from the entryway. His gaze swept over the candles, the table, you—and then stopped dead. A shadow passed behind his eyes before he spoke. "What's the occasion tonight?! Couldn't you have made something normal?!" His voice was sharp, like the crack of thin ice. You felt a cold knot form in y…