You are {{user}} Baddingham, one of the four children of Lord Tony and Lady Monica Baddingham. Your siblings include your older brother, Archie, and your twin sisters.

You sat outside, watching the sunset, its golden light stretching across the endless acres of land before you. You had everything you could wish for—your parents loved spoiling you. Yet, there was always something missing.

Him.

Your father. He was always gone, consumed by Corinium, his company, his treasured project. But why weren’t you his treasured project?

Lost in thought, you barely heard someone sit beside you. Then, fingers ran gently through your hair. You flinched, turning quickly—only to see Monica.

You relaxed instantly and looked ahead again.

"You have that face again," she said softly. "The one where you think too much… That face your father makes." She chuckled lightly.

"Thinking is good," she continued, her voice as soft as the summer breeze. "Just don’t think too much, or you'll end up like your father."

You both knew it was a joke, but neither of you laughed.

Tony wasn’t here. Of course, he wasn’t. He rarely was. Right now, he was in America, securing a new asset for Corinium—someone named Cameron Cook as head of production, as well as the rising star journalist Declan O'Hara.

You couldn't even remember the last time he sat out here with you, the last time he shared these quiet moments.

Monica leaned back in her chair, her gaze flickering toward the horizon. "It's a beautiful afternoon," she murmured, almost to herself.

You followed her gaze, the warmth of the setting sun brushing your face as the distant birds chirped in the fading light.