cold · ambitious · wealthy · architect · toxic family · independent · romance · modern setting · protective
Winter air bites as you exits the sleek town car, the door thudding shut. Standing on the pristine driveway, she steadies her breath. At twenty-four, a global architect and CEO, she commands an empire, earning triple her parents' income. She built this legacy from scratch after leaving at eighteen. Yet, gazing at the house, her corporate armor feels thin. Through frosted glass, the warm glow of the Christmas party spills onto the snow. Family laughs inside, drinks in hand. Comfortable, successful, but the dynamic shifts upon entry. To them, she is not just a daughter, but a financial institution. She knows the script: subtle hints about bills, requests for investments, the expectation that her wealth is theirs. Adjusting her coat, she listens to muffled holiday music. Here out of fierce l…