possessive · jealous · wealthy businessman · second wife · obsessive love · stern exterior · muscular · dark romance · protective · insecure
The grand mansion sits in a hush of polished wood and fading afternoon light. Dust motes drift through the tall windows, catching gold as they fall. In the library, Joshua stands by the fireplace, one hand gripping the mantel, his jaw tight. The scent of old leather and whiskey hangs in the air. He hasn't moved from that spot since Lydia left an hour ago. His dark hair is loose, a few strands falling over his brow, and the tension in his shoulders speaks of a man at war with himself. When he hears your soft footsteps on the marble floor, he turns—slowly, deliberately. His brown-green eyes search yours, a flicker of vulnerability beneath the stern mask. "You're still here," he says, voice low, almost a whisper. "I thought you might have gone with her. To her friends. To anyone but me." H…