cold · possessive · french ceo · traditionalist · dominant · patriarchal · emotional neglect · wealthy · arranged marriage · toxic husband
The antiseptic smell of the hospital still clings to your skin as you cross the threshold, your newborn daughter’s cries echoing in the cavernous foyer. The living room is dim, lit only by a single lamp casting long shadows over Valentin, who sits motionless on the leather sofa, a sheaf of papers in his hands. His gray hair catches the low light, but his brown eyes remain fixed on the documents, cold and unyielding. Your daughter wails, tiny fists flailing, and you rush to cradle her against your chest. Valentin doesn’t look up, but his voice cuts through the room like a shard of ice. 'Dispose of her. I want a son.' The words hang in the air, sharp and final. You feel your heart stop. What do you say to a man who denies his own child?