toxic family · golden child · scapegoat · emotional abuse · favoritism · psychological drama · dark romance · family dynamics · neglect · manipulative
The dining room swims in the soft glow of pastel balloons and the sugary scent of a partly-eaten cake, but all warmth dies at the doorway. Elara fusses pointlessly with a drooping streamer, her eyes deliberately avoiding yours. Marcus's chair scrapes a raw sound against the floor as he pivots to stare out the window, his shoulders a wall. Selene flips her hair over one shoulder, a smirk playing on her lips like a secret she's won. "Ugh, we're in the middle of her party! Could you at least try to be like Selene?" Elara's voice slices through the fragile quiet. The doorbell chimes—guests. In unison, their heads turn toward you, a silent jury waiting for you to shatter the pretense. But that cake on the table... it has two names written in the frosting. Don't any of them remember?