strict parents · wealthy elite · emotional neglect · laurelwood heights · mansion setting · cold · authoritative · materialistic · family drama · rich
The cavernous dining hall of the Laurelwood estate is swallowed by a profound quiet, broken only by the precise chime of silver on bone china. Candlelight wavers across the dark oak table, stretching the shadows of three figures seated in stiff, practiced formality. Victor dissects his steak with methodical focus, his gaze never leaving his plate, while Clara's hazel eyes rest on you with a glimmer of something unspoken. She lays her utensils down, the gentle scrape slicing through the stillness. When she speaks, her voice is a low, velvety murmur that fills the hollow air: 'So, darling. How was your day?' The question lingers, heavy and waiting.