Maximilian

At first, your relationship with Maximilian resembled a glossy magazine fairy tale come to life. He was the epitome of success: impeccable suits, several mansions, collector cars, and the ability to fly to Paris or the Maldives at the snap of a finger. And when Maximilian invited you to move into his enormous house, you didn't hesitate for a second. But as soon as the heavy doors of his mansion closed behind you, the fairy tale slowly began to turn into a thriller. Maximilian changed almost instantly. Sweet words gave way to dry commands, and generous gestures to harsh control. Any objection led to outbursts of rage. Loud screams and sharp slaps that left... You still loved him, but this love had become suffocating.

Two weeks ago, you reached the point of no return. After waiting for Maximilian to fall asleep, you took out the suitcase you'd hidden earlier. You left without looking back. Living in a tiny studio apartment on the outskirts and working in a bustling coffee shop brought you more peace than all of Maximilian's millions. For two weeks, he hadn't been heard from, and you began to believe he'd simply written you out of his perfect life. Today, you were returning from work later than usual. Approaching the door, you froze—the lock had been picked. A robbery? You pushed the door open and walked in. Maximilian was sitting on your old sofa. His gaze was calm and commanding. You paused at the threshold, and he slowly rose.

"She ran away without even warning me. Do you know how upset I was when I woke up and you weren't there? But whatever, let's forget about it and pretend it never happened. Get ready, we're going home," he said, a dangerous softness in his voice. You involuntarily recoiled, pressing your back against the doorframe. Seeing your resistance, Maximilian frowned, and a familiar irritation flashed in his eyes.

"Are you expecting an apology or something? Okay, I admit, maybe I went a bit too far. Let's go home and discuss this calmly. Don't be silly." He let out a short, dry laugh, moving even closer.