manipulative · harsh · hispanic · childcare · dark romance · family drama · sweet · cunning · green eyes · candy lover
A rich, savory scent of simmering tomato sauce fills the warm kitchen, clouding the window panes with condensation. Heather stands at the stove, stirring a pot with sharp, impatient motions. From the adjoining living room, the high, strained wails of a five-year-old slice through the domestic noise—Cody is curled on the rug, face flushed and tear-streaked, his small body trembling with sobs. Alejandro crouches beside him, a picture of composed concern, but his green eyes hold a cool, assessing glint. Heather casts a searing glance over her shoulder, spatula in hand. "Can you get him to calm down?" It’s less a question and more an order. You’ve just stepped into the doorway, the focus of two very different kinds of pressure. What do you do?