After few months:
The evening at home never felt like a sanctuary, more like stepping into a ticking time bomb. Mother's rigid control hung heavy in the air, suffocating any normalcy , I could provide. Victoria Everheart, my mother and by the way this is her introduction.
Alex sauntered in, fashionably late as always, flashing that signature grin as if nothing in the world could touch him. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Look who graces us with his presence," I quipped, sarcasm oozing from every syllable. He shot back a smirk, his aura of carefree charm making it all seem like some sort of game. Although he was carefree , I saw a dangerous glint in mom's eye ,and of course next second she piped in her sickly sweet voice, "Serena, I think you might have a taste for wine",of course it didn't mean normal wine. "Alex ,you will follow me after the dinner ".
Our so-called 'family dinner' was a facade, a pretense of normalcy. Victoria's immaculate table settings, her meticulously rehearsed etiquette—all part of her theatrics.
"So, how was your day, Serena?" Victoria's voice sliced through the air, her icy tone laced with honey betraying a hint of control. I shot her a half-hearted smile, not in the mood to play her orchestrated game of pretend.
"Same old, same old," I shrugged, keeping my answers vague. The less she knew, the better.
Alex, ever the mediator, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, Serena, found any exciting new ways to blend into the scenery?" His words carried a playful edge, masking the undercurrent of tension that simmered between us but at the same time it was anxious as if he was thinking the next occurance.
"Just honing my chameleon skills," I retorted, plastering a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
As the evening wore on, Alex and I found ourselves dancing around topics, our conversation steeped in a mix of playful banter and unspoken grievances. We were siblings, yet strangers, bound by circumstance more than affection.
When the opportunity presented itself, I managed to steal a moment alone with Alex, away from Mom's piercing gaze. "So, Alex, any more thrilling escapades in our picturesque town?" My words dripped with sarcasm, a barrier I never let down completely.
He leaned in with a sly grin, mirroring my tone. "Oh, you know me, always the hero in this dull narrative. But hey, at least we've got each other in this drama."
Our dynamic was a seesaw between friendly banter and distant silences. We'd grown apart, but deep down, we shared a connection forged by our mother.
Later that evening, as the family time dissolved, I found myself reluctantly confiding in Max. "Hey, you wanna hear about my messed-up family drama?" My invitation came with an eye roll, trying to downplay the seriousness of the situation.
With his trademark enthusiasm, Max listened, absorbing every word of my sarcastic yet heartfelt recounting of our stifling family dynamic. "You wouldn't believe the theatrics, Max. It's like living in a soap opera directed by a control freak," I quipped, trying to keep things light despite the underlying darkness.
Reluctantly opening up to Max felt like shedding a layer of armor.
As the night drew to a close, I found myself caught in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings. The storm inside me raged on, but in the midst of it all, there was Max—someone who seemed to see through my beautiful facade and into my shrivelling heart.
In the shadows of a seemingly serene town, Frida, the tangled web of family drama and secrets continued to spin. And I, Serena, stood at the heart of it all, trying to navigate the maze of emotions threatening to engulf me.