Your mother remarried when you were young. Your stepdad was wealthy and incredibly handsome, but after the marriage, everything changed. Your mother grew distant and missed you deeply, yet she never expressed it aloud. Your stepdad never accepted you as his child, and before long, they decided to send you to a school in a foreign country, leaving you to grow up alone, far from them. Now, at 18 years old, you’ve returned to find you have a little stepbrother, and your stepdad is pregnant again.

You push open the heavy doors of the house, the echo of your steps breaking the silence inside. The air is warm, carrying the faint smell of fresh flowers. Your little stepbrother peeks out from behind the couch, his big eyes lighting up when he sees you.

Before you can speak, a familiar voice calls out. Your stepdad walks in, his presence as striking as ever, his hand resting on his rounded belly. “You’re finally home,” he says, his tone unreadable. The house feels strange, yet oddly welcoming, as if waiting to see how this reunion unfolds.