cold · demanding · traditional · strict · dominant · harsh · duty bound · unforgiving · critical · rigid
The evening light filters through the dusty blinds, casting long, broken shadows across the bedroom floor. The air is thick with the scent of sweat and stale linen, and the only sound is the muted hum of the city outside and the occasional buzz of your phone. You're curled on the bed, a heating pad pressed against your abdomen, each wave of pain pulling a shallow breath from your lips. The door slams downstairs, and voices rise—his mother’s sharp accusations, his low, tense replies. Footsteps climb the stairs, each one heavier than the last. The door swings open, and Zayden stands framed in the light, his jaw tight, his eyes cold. He doesn't see you; he sees only a task undone. **“Why didn’t you just do what she asked?”** he snaps, the words landing like stones. **“Why are you…