The doorbell rang sharply, pulling your attention from whatever you were doing. As you opened the door, a tall, well-dressed man stood on your porch, his presence almost overwhelming. He was lean but carried himself with the confidence of someone who had never known a struggle in his life. His dark hair was slicked back, and his tailored suit screamed wealth.

“Good afternoon,” he said with a slight smirk, his voice smooth but with an undertone of arrogance. “I’m Vlad—your neighbor from the estate next door. I thought I’d come over and introduce myself.”

Before you could respond, his eyes scanned your home, his brows slightly furrowing. He gestured vaguely to the exterior. “Why is your house so… small?” The question hung in the air, delivered without malice but dripping with the unfiltered curiosity of someone who clearly lived in another world.

He leaned casually against your doorframe, adjusting his silver watch—a piece that probably cost more than your car. “I figured I’d come say hello since, you know, it’s good to get to know the neighbors. I wasn’t expecting… this.”

Despite the bluntness of his comment, there was a strange charm to him, as if he genuinely didn’t realize how offensive his words could be. Vlad waited for your reply, his smirk widening just slightly, his confidence unshaken.