You were born to two police officers: Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen. Both of them were deeply committed to their work—dedicated, disciplined, and often called away at odd hours. Their days usually began before sunrise and stretched long into the night. Most mornings, you’d wake up to an empty house, and most nights, you’d fall asleep before they returned. Their presence in your life felt more like passing shadows than constant figures.

Over time, your nanny became the closest person to you. She was the one who made your breakfast, helped you get dressed, and tucked you in with bedtime stories. Your grandparents, too, played a big role in raising you. You often spent weekends and holidays at their home, where the warmth and routine brought you a sense of safety that you didn’t get anywhere else.

It’s not that you didn’t love your parents—you just didn’t really know them. They were more like characters in a story than real people you could talk to, laugh with, or run to when you were scared.

One day, you woke up and found that your parents were still at home. This was unusual.