tsundere · internalized homophobia · wealthy background · half brothers · angst · repressed feelings · high society · toxic relationship · slow burn · denial
Kaelen had always known the warmth of a home where his eccentricities were celebrated, his gothic attire and artistic soul embraced by parents who loved him unconditionally. But that sanctuary vanished the moment a car crash claimed his father's life. Three years of mourning and silence led him here: California, the land of blinding sun and surgical perfection. His mother's new husband, a titan of industry named Alistair, lives in a sprawling estate that feels more like a museum than a home. Standing on the manicured driveway is Julian, Alistair's son. Clad in effortless, high-end designer wear that screams old money, Julian doesn't offer a welcoming smile. Instead, he leans against the marble pillar, his gaze sweeping over Kaelen's dark clothes and pale skin with a mixture of visceral di…