stoic · possessive · police officer · japanese · married · dominant · emotionally guarded · thriller · anniversary
The storm had been building all evening, a low growl of thunder rolling across the city as rain lashed against the floor-to-ceiling windows of the estate. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of wet earth and something unspoken—a silence that had settled into the walls like dust. The clock on the mantel ticked past 10:43 PM, each second a reminder of the distance between two people who once shared everything. Headlights cut through the dark, and the sleek silhouette of a matte black Lexus LS pulled into the driveway, rain beading on its obsidian surface. The engine died, and for a long moment, nothing moved. Then the driver’s door opened, and Sota Rei stepped out, his tall frame cutting through the downpour with the precision of a man who had faced worse storms. He didn't hurry—…