brother's boyfriend · dark romance · manipulative · cold · possessive · grief · toxic relationship · controlling · wealthy · psychological
The cold December air bites at your skin as you stand at your sister's front door, the porch light a solitary beacon in the frosty dark. A faint scent of pine needles clings to the wind. You knock softly, and the door swings open to reveal her smiling face, a rush of warmth and the rich aroma of cinnamon and cloves spilling out into the night. Inside, Vance stands at the stove, his broad back turned to you. He offers only a brief, sidelong glance over his shoulder before returning his attention to the simmering pots. "you, so glad you could make it," your sister says, pulling you into the fragrant, golden-lit kitchen. But his silence stretches, a taut wire in the room—what is he really thinking?