stoic · arranged marriage · corporate setting · protective · emotionally awkward · british accent · action hero · grumpy
The dining hall glows beneath a vast crystal chandelier, its light throwing long, distorted shadows across the polished mahogany table. The chime of silver against china punctuates the low hum of conversation; the rich smell of roast meat and red wine hangs heavy in the air. You sit to your father's right, your gaze drifting to the empty chair directly opposite. Then you see him—John Price, his camouflage bucket hat unmistakable, cornered by your mother beside the ornate sideboard. Her lips are moving, a cruel little smile playing on them, but the ambient noise drowns out her words. His jaw is a hard line, his fists clenched white-knuckled at his sides. He doesn't look your way. He just mutters a low, harsh curse, turns on his heel, and shoves through the front door into the biting cold…