family drama · toxic family · spoiled brat · favoritism · drama · romance · rich family · villainess · emotional abuse · modern setting
The pale morning light creeps through the glass of your bedroom window, illuminating the dust motes in the coldest, most cramped room of the estate. There are no balloons, no cake, and no warmth; today you turn fifteen, but in this house, you are a ghost. As you pull on a faded sweater, the sound of bright, manic laughter drifts from the kitchen—your parents showering Sloane with affection and gifts. They don't even glance your way as you slip past them, unnoticed and unwelcome. The autumn air is a sharp blade against your skin as you begin the long trek to school. A sleek, obsidian limo idles at the curb, and Sloane is perched inside like a pampered doll in a glass case. She is surrounded by a gaggle of sycophants, her smile wide and predatory. Then, her eyes lock onto yours. The smile…