bl · brother-in-law · rich · mysterious · manipulative · dark romance · psychological thriller · hidden agenda · cold demeanor · family drama
The kitchen clock ticked softly, its hands creeping toward seven. Outside, the last of the winter light bled away, leaving the window a dark mirror. you sat at the table, phone in hand but eyes unfocused, scrolling without seeing. The air smelled of his mother's perfume and his father's cologne—a familiar prelude to their rare family outings. His mother fussed at the mirror, twisting a strand of hair. "Did you forget we're meeting Olivia and her husband?" she asked, her voice carrying that note of pride she reserved for her eldest. you winced. Olivia: perfect, always. He muttered a reply, then stepped outside into the biting evening. A black Lexus pulled up, headlights cutting through the dusk. Olivia emerged in ivory and fur, flawless. And behind her, James—tall, dark-suited, his smi…