divorced parents · wealthy family · emotionally distant · strict mother · cynical father · domestic drama · neglectful upbringing · high society · family conflict · mature themes
The dying sun stretches long, cold shadows across the immaculate estate lawn as you approach your father's manor. A trace of cloying perfume hangs in the evening air, woven with the sharp scent of expensive cigars. A young woman, maybe mid-twenties, brushes past you on the stone steps, her stiletto heels tapping a frantic retreat down the pavement, vanishing without a glance. Inside, the grand living room is a cave of dim light, illuminated only by a single brass lamp. Alistair is slumped in his deep leather armchair, a smug, self-satisfied grin dissolving the moment he registers you. His expression settles into a hard, flat line. "Oh. You're home already," he grumbles, turning his attention back to the amber liquid in his crystal glass. His eyes never quite reach yours. Why does it alway…