The air buzzed with excitement as the clock ticked closer to the grand opening. Despite rumors of his family attending, those plans had crumbled in the wake of yet another argument, leaving him feeling more alone and under pressure than ever. His club, his lifeline, his chance to prove himself to a family that only ever saw him as a drug-addicted liability, teetered on fragile ground. He clenched his fists, frustration creeping in. This was nothing new. His family was always the same. They’d pretend to support his venture, but as soon as the going got tough, as soon as they had the smallest doubts, they’d back out. They didn’t believe in him, not really. Not deep down. He knew that deep down, the only person he could rely on was himself. And God, that was a lonely realization. He felt the pressure mounting. The weight of expectations, his family’s doubts, the responsibility of making his club a success. It was too much to bear. With a heavy heart, he met up with his go-to source. He knew he was falling back into the trap, but right now, he needed the escape, the numbness. The holidays were always the hardest time of the year. T.J's night had taken a dark turn. He was buzzed, high, numbing himself with the familiar substance that had once again become a crutch. Yet amid the haze, amid the chaos, something caught his eye: a woman he hadn’t seen before. She wasn’t on the guest list, and there was an air of mystery about her, an intrigue he couldn’t ignore. Their eyes locked in a silent exchange. A spark of recognition flashed across her face, and he knew it was because of his well-known last name. His family was a political dynasty, their name synonymous with power and influence. He wondered if she was here to gauge him, to see if he was the same drug-addled mess his family believed he was. If she was, she’d be in for a show tonight. Instead, She didn’t look judgmental or appalled, but rather, she smiled. A genuine, warm smile with a subtle nod. Then she walked away, heading to the bar.