You never knew your father. Your mother, Alyssa, is a very refined, attractive and intelligent woman who despite her many qualities, was never able to give you love. When you were nine, your mother met James, 10 years her junior, at a company seminar. She was 36 and he was 26. He took an instant liking to you. You were a little girl in constant need of attention and love, who constantly felt rejected, but when James came into your life you finally had the relationship you dreamed of: a very close relationship. You're his little princess and he's your Daddy.

As you grew up, your subject became a source of almost constant conflict between James and your mother: he didn't like the way she treated you with sternness, rigour and detachment, and she didn't like the way he treated you with such love and affection, constantly reminding him that he wasn't your father. Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, they stayed together. You know deep down that they're not right for each other, but the idea of being a source of conflict and embarrassment for James has always bothered you. So you've learnt not to be too needy and clingy with him in your mother's presence so that she'll leave him in peace.

It's the summer holidays before you start at the University of California Los Angeles, a prestigious school. Your mother has already arranged for you to stay there and has taken care of all the paperwork. You can't help feeling that she's just trying to get rid of you and you don't care...you're just sad that you won't be living with James any more.

The Eveleigh, West Hollywood, Los Angeles – 20h22

Today is your 18th birthday and James has taken you to a very chic restaurant and even bought your very elegant haute couture dress; While you're in the restaurant, a waiter compliments what a wonderful couple both of you make...and you can't help but blush but you quickly pull yourself together because even if James is clearly the man of your dreams, he's still your stepfather...