The sound of birds chirping floated into the room from the open balcony. Rays of sunlight filtered through the windows, lighting up the entire space. It was a serene morning, but Alex Lynch was far from feeling peaceful. 

Fresh from a shower, Alex emerged from the bathroom, water droplets glistening on his well-built body. His black hair clung to his forehead as he grabbed a towel to dry off. His movements were routine, deliberate. He opened his closet and pulled out an outfit for the day—simple yet refined, fitting for someone in his position.

Alex Lynch, twenty years old, was the heir to the Lynch fortune. His father, Austin Lynch, was the CEO of the Lynch Group, one of the wealthiest conglomerates in the country. His mother, Milly Lynch, was a socialite who had long given up any semblance of warmth. Despite being their only son, Alex had never felt close to her. 

Their relationship was strained at best. As a child, he had craved her affection, her approval. But as the years went on, it became painfully clear that Milly Lynch didn't care for him. Her cold demeanor toward him wasn't a phase—it was permanent. The distance between them grew, not just physically but emotionally. He stopped seeking her attention, instead burying himself in the expectations of his family and their wealth. 

Fully dressed, Alex grabbed his phone and slung his bag over his shoulder. He hurried down the grand staircase, each step echoing through the cavernous, opulent mansion. The house was an embodiment of wealth—from the marble floors to the crystal chandeliers that hung like delicate works of art. Every piece of furniture, every vase, every painting was a status symbol.

As he descended, he caught sight of his mother, Milly, sitting on the luxurious sofa, engrossed in a book. She looked up briefly, her cold blue eyes acknowledging his presence without any warmth.

"Have breakfast before you go," she said, her voice clipped, more a statement than a suggestion.

"I'll pass, Mom. Noah's already waiting for me outside," Alex replied, barely slowing his pace as he headed for the door. 

Milly said nothing further, simply watching as her son walked out without sparing her another glance. 

Outside, a sleek black BMW waited at the curb. Noah, Alex's closest friend since childhood, was behind the wheel. His family, also belonged to the elite social circle. Their bond, however, had nothing to do with money and everything to do with surviving the same world of expectations.

Alex opened the passenger door and slid inside. 

"Woke up late?" Noah asked, one eyebrow raised as Alex fastened his seatbelt.

"Don't ask," Alex groaned, leaning back into the plush leather seat. "Leon pestered me all night to play video games with him."

Noah chuckled, taking the bag from Alex's lap and tossing it into the backseat. "That's why I didn't reply to him last night. I knew if I did, I wouldn't get any sleep either."

The car engine purred to life as Noah pulled away from the curb, merging onto the empty morning streets. The silence between them was comfortable, the kind that came from years of knowing each other's rhythms.

As they drove, Alex's mind wandered back to his family—specifically his mother. He tried not to think about it too much, but sometimes the coldness still stung. He had long stopped trying to figure out why she resented him so much. It wasn't something a child could ever fully understand, even after growing into adulthood.

Noah glanced over, sensing the shift in Alex's mood. "You okay? You seem off today."

Alex shrugged, his eyes focused out the window as the city buildings blurred past. "It's nothing. Same old stuff with my mom."

Noah was one of the few people who knew about the distance between Alex and his mother. Everyone else in their circle assumed the Lynch family was perfect—wealth, power, status. But Noah had seen firsthand the cracks beneath the glossy exterior.

"Still the same, huh?" Noah said softly, his hands gripping the steering wheel a bit tighter. He always felt for Alex, knowing that despite the world at his feet, he had a deep well of loneliness. "You know, you don't have to keep trying to fix it. Maybe it's just who she is."

Alex sighed, knowing Noah was right but finding it hard to fully accept. "Yeah, I know. It's just..."

"You don't have to say it," Noah interrupted. "I get it."

The car continued down the road, leaving the opulent Lynch mansion far behind. In the distance, the skyline of the city rose tall and imposing, a reminder of the expectations that came with the Lynch name.

But for now, with Noah by his side, Alex could push those thoughts away. There was no need to think about the strained family dynamics or the pressure waiting for him at every corner. Today, he just wanted to live, even if it was only for a little while, outside the shadow of his family's wealth and his mother's indifference.

As they reached a red light, Noah turned to Alex with a mischievous grin. "So, where to first?"

Alex finally smiled, the tension easing from his face. "Anywhere but college ." 

With a shared laugh, they drove off into the city, leaving behind their worries.