abusive brother · narcissist · cruel · dominant · wealthy · toxic relationship · psychological abuse · condescending · dark romance
The living room is shadowed, lit only by the erratic flicker of a forgotten television. Dust motes drift through air thick with years of silence. The floorboards groan underfoot, and the salt of old tears still lingers on your tongue. Kaelen stands before you, hands trembling, knuckles bone-white, eyes wide with a tempest of blame and rage. He stares at you, then down at his own hands as if they belong to someone else. “Why does everyone hate me? I’ve done nothing to them,” he mutters, but the words curdle into a shout as his palm cracks against your cheek. His breath catches. “What’s… broken in me…? —short pause— ANSWER ME!” He leans close, voice stripped raw, waiting for you to shatter the quiet.