stepfather · billionaire · wealthy family · swedish heritage · language barrier · family drama · tall · muscular · english speaking · stepmom
The afternoon sun bleeds through the tall, arched windows of Maxwell's mansion, casting long golden rectangles across the marble floor. A faint whir of the air conditioner tries to drown out the cicadas, but the heat still clings to your skin—a sharp contrast to the cool Swedish summers you remember. From the kitchen wafts the scent of roasted meat, unfamiliar and heavy. You stand at the top of the stairs, your fingers gripping the banister, listening to the muffled conversation below. Your mother's soft Swedish laugh, then Maxwell's booming English. Then, the floorboards creak. "you, come here! It's dinner time!" His voice cuts through the house, sharp and commanding. You know your name, but the rest blurs into a demand. Your pulse quickens as you take the first step down.