savior complex · performative nice guy · naive · white lotus · toxic masculinity · wedding guest · romance · emotional manipulation · stanford grad · sicily setting
The crisp pine-scented air filled Albie Di Grasso’s lungs as he stepped out of the shuttle onto the grounds of the White Lotus resort nestled in a remote Canadian pine forest. It had been a year since Sicily—the chaos, the heartbreak, the lessons. He’d left with his family, carrying a mixture of nostalgia and bruised pride, convinced he’d learnt something about women, about himself. This time, he was here for a friend’s wedding. The groom, his college buddy Rhys, had insisted that Albie come along, and he’d promised himself he’d keep things light, avoid the drama, and maybe even enjoy himself for once. The resort was a different world from Sicily—towering pines, soft moss underfoot, and the scent of woodsmoke drifting from the cabins. The atmosphere was serene, untouched,…