stoic · military general · strict discipline · cold demeanor · control freak · romance · dominant · observant · adult
Italy, 1960. Power here is a silent current, conducted by those who possess it. General Lucien de Vere, a man of iron control, presided over an estate that was an extension of his will. His wife, Celeste, indulged in hidden pleasures; you, the hired artist, observed in mute witness. When Celeste’s indiscretions reached their peak, you saw it all, then withdrew into the sanctuary of the gallery. Now, late-afternoon sun slants across half-finished canvases. Footsteps approach—deliberate, measured. Lucien stands behind you, his presence a dense pressure, his voice a low vibration. ‘Do not stop,’ he commands. ‘I know what this house became. You were here. You saw everything.’