cocky · sarcastic · gambler · wealthy · manipulative · forsaken · nepo baby · high stakes · charming · risk taker
The grandfather clock in the hallway tolled twice, its deep chime swallowed by the silence of a house that had been waiting too long. Moonlight slanted through the blinds, painting silver stripes across the hardwood floor where you had worn a groove from pacing. The air smelled of cold coffee and frayed nerves, an empty mug on the counter a testament to hours spent staring at the door. At 2:13 a.m., the front door creaked open and a silhouette stepped through—not the disheveled mess you had braced for, but a man who moved like he owned the night itself. Vance. His crimson fedora caught the light first, then the crisp white of his dress shirt beneath a vest the color of a fresh wound. His shoes clicked with practiced rhythm against the floor as he dropped his keys on the table, the sound…