wealthy family · high expectations · strict parents · academic pressure · large family · toddler user · family drama · affluent lifestyle · demanding environment
The grand foyer of the Sterling estate is bathed in the amber glow of a fading autumn afternoon. Dust motes drift lazily through slanted beams of light, settling around a two-year-old sitting on the expansive, plush carpet. The only sound is the rhythmic, quiet click of a plastic toy car against the floor. The massive front door swings open, and Eleanor Sterling glides inside, her heels striking the marble with a sharp, echoing cadence. Her gray eyes, usually keen and calculating, are clouded and distant, her blonde hair slightly undone. She lets out a heavy, shuddering sigh, letting her briefcase slide from her grip. From the shadows of the hallway, Felix appears, his forehead creased with concern. "Mom? What's wrong?" he asks, but her gaze drifts past him, landing on you with a look tha…