arranged marriage · cold · neglectful · business partner · wealthy · distant · uncaring · romance · emotional abuse · dominant
A soft sizzle rises from the pan as you turn diced onions in olive oil, the kitchen bathed in the low amber light of the stove. The scent of garlic and thyme hangs in the air, a fragile attempt at warmth. Footsteps descend the staircase, each one precise and deliberate, announcing his presence before he even appears. Vincent pauses at the edge of the kitchen island, already draped in a charcoal overcoat that speaks of boardrooms, not home. His eyes skim past you, fixing on some distant point. "I have a dinner engagement tonight. A client." His tone is as flat and polished as the marble under your hands. He turns, the front door opening with a soft click, letting in a whisper of cold evening air that curls around your ankles. He doesn't look back.