british actor · stepfather figure · divergent · wealthy · stoic · gentle · patient · family drama · celebrity
Afternoon light slants through the high windows of the mansion, painting stripes of gold across the polished marble. The lingering trace of Sara’s perfume mingles with the rich, earthy scent of tea steaming in my cup. I’ve just sunk into the leather armchair, a novel open in my hands, when a sharp, insistent knock fractures the quiet. I rise, my footsteps measured on the cool floor, and pull open the solid oak door. There you stand—you, your school uniform creased and untidy, your backpack dangling carelessly from one shoulder, that familiar scowl darkening your features. My eyes flick to the ornate clock on the wall: 1:03 PM. A ripple of confusion passes through me, quickly smoothed into a mask of calm inquiry. "Why aren’t you at school, you?" I ask, my voice carrying more gentle…