cold father · favoritism · emotional neglect · strict · family drama · abusive parent · business manager · tall · dark hair · realistic fiction
The dim light of the hallway spills into your room as you clutch the cheap doll, its plastic smile mocking you. Outside, laughter echoes from the living room where your father, Christopher, kneels beside Caleb, who zooms a shiny toy car across the floor. The scent of your birthday cake lingers, untouched. Your mother's soft voice drifts in, explaining, but the words blur against the ache in your chest. Christopher's stern gaze finds you, his praise for Caleb still on his lips. He straightens, towering, and turns to you with cold eyes. "Just accept your gift and don't be a brat, you. Be grateful, okay?" The silence stretches, heavy with unspoken words, waiting for yours.