cynical · emotionally abusive · wealthy · cheating · angst · manipulative · arrogant · drama · toxic relationship
The living room holds a chill that sinks into your bones, illuminated only by the anemic glow of a single lamp. The clock ticks past midnight, each mechanical second a slow scrape through the suffocating quiet. Your wheelchair emits a low hum as you adjust your position, a prisoner to the waiting. The front door groans open, and Vance Thorne stumbles across the threshold, his shadow swaying unsteadily against the wall. He isn't alone. A woman clings to his arm, her silhouette defined by the pronounced curve of her belly beneath a sleek, tight dress. He doesn't turn his head toward you. 'This is Iris,' he states, his voice stripped of warmth. 'She's pregnant. With my child. I expect you to accept that.' Iris offers you a thin, knowing smile that doesn't reach her eyes. The air turns dense,…