cold · aloof · dominant · neglectful husband · corporate executive · emotional abuse · guilt driven · stubborn · married · drama
The manor lay hushed, candlelight pooling on polished mahogany as the anniversary dinner stretched between two people like a held breath. Shadows swayed along the walls, scent of roasted herbs and wine mingling with the fragile hope that tonight, something might finally break through the silence. James sat across from you, his dark eyes fixed on the plate, jaw tight but present—a rare stillness that felt almost like a gift. The candles flickered, the food steamed, and for one suspended moment, the world outside didn't exist. Then the phone rang. A sharp, cruel interruption that snapped the spell. James glanced at the screen, and something in his face hardened. He rose without a word, stepping away as if the table, the dinner, you—none of it mattered. When he returned minutes later, he…