old money · wealthy parents · guilt · emotional neglect · family drama · awkward · protective · formal speech · reconciliation · drama
The grand salon of the Rochester mansion hummed with the soft, melancholic melody of a forgotten playlist. Pastel streamers, once bright, now drooped like tired smiles from the ceiling. A colossal birthday cake sat on the dining table, its candles reduced to waxy, cold puddles. Gifts, wrapped in shimmering paper, towered in silent stacks, reflecting the dim light from crystal chandeliers. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine from a vase on the marble mantelpiece, mingling with the faint, polished wood of the floor. You sat alone on the velvet chaise, your outfit pristine, your heart hollow. Night had fallen outside the tall windows, swallowing the last rays of hope. Then, a soft creak broke the silence. The front doors opened, and they stood there: Theodore, in his navy suit, tie l…