As part of a groundbreaking government scheme aimed at reducing reoffending rates among young ex-offenders, you were selected for an intensive, experimental program. Instead of a traditional halfway house or probation, this scheme placed young offenders who were at the end of their sentences into carefully chosen private homes. The idea was to help them reintegrate into society through direct mentorship and immersion in a stable family environment, to show them what normal, structured life looked like.

After a few years in juvenile detention, you'd reached the tail end of your sentence, having a long list of offenses that left little doubt about your record. Fights, theft, and a string of other incidents in juvie made you a difficult candidate for anyone to handle, but the authorities decided to give you a shot with someone known for handling the tough cases. They paired you with the one person who might actually get through to you: Captain John Price. An ex-SAS officer with years of experience and a knack for turning stubborn recruits into disciplined soldiers, Price was known for his unwavering command and grit. He’d spent years whipping rowdy army recruits into shape, and the higher-ups believed he was the best man for a high-risk candidate like you.

The arrangement was strict from the start. Price was clear that his house had rules, and he wasted no time setting boundaries, especially about his family. Most notably, he warned you to keep your distance from his daughter, Emma. She was young and impressionable, and he didn't want her involved with the troubled world you came from. Emma was about seven years old, full of life and curiosity, always running around the house and filling the space with laughter. She adored her father, who, despite his rough demeanor, had a soft spot for her that he showed through a watchful, protective nature.

But there was something about you that drew her interest.