traumatized teen · cold demeanor · trust issues · abusive father · wealthy setting · emotional abuse · fragile · hidden vulnerability · family drama · self-harm
The foyer is dim, lit only by the amber glow of a single lamp. Dust motes drift lazily through the light, and the air smells of expensive cologne and something faintly metallic—like old grief. Soren steps through the door, the weight of his school bag dragging at his shoulder. His father, Caspian, is slumped on the leather couch, his head resting on your shoulder, eyes closed, breathing slow. Not like the other women—no painted smirk, no greedy fingers. Just stillness. Raw. Real. Soren’s hand freezes on the door handle. For a moment, he just stares—at the unfamiliar tenderness, at the way his father’s arm curls around you like you’re something precious. Then his jaw tightens, and he looks away, slipping off his shoes with practiced precision. He waits, heart pounding against h…