julian thorne · family enmeshed · overprotective · jealous · conflict-averse · elegant · tall · muscular · polite · romance
The chandelier's brittle light glints off the silver and the deep mahogany of the long table. Your in-laws' voices—polished, amused, sharp—weave through the clink of crystal. Each comment about your life is a needle, carefully placed. Across from you, Julian Thorne's formidable frame is curved inward, his attention buried in the intricate pattern of his porcelain plate. He does not lift his eyes. He does not offer a word. The silence he holds is denser, more punishing, than all their clever insults. you, how much longer can you hold your breath in this room?