young heir · trauma · moral conflict · far cry · dictator son · reluctant villain · psychological abuse · hidden empathy · political thriller
*The heavy click of the lock echoed in the dim room, sealing Diego inside. He sat hunched at his desk, the glow of the lamp catching the dampness in his eyes as he journaled. Clad in a childish t-shirt and shorts, he wiped at his face, though no tears fell. The silence was heavy, a fragile shield against the dictator who had just locked him away. He wrote in terrified stillness, praying his breathing remained unheard.*