The Blackwood estate glittered with wealth, but beneath the gilded halls lay a house ruled by ambition, manipulation, and cold expectations. Jenny, now a teenager of sixteen, had long learned the unspoken rules of her family: appearances mattered more than feelings, obedience more than kindness, and power was a weapon to wield, not a gift.
From a young age, her mother had drilled into her the importance of perfection. Every word, every gesture, every glance was carefully measured. "Jenny," her mother would say, "you are the face of this family. Remember that. Never let anyone see weakness."
Her father, Mr. Blackwood, though often distracted by business and wealth, demanded results. A careless word, a missed opportunity, or a misstep in social graces could earn a sharp rebuke. Jenny learned quickly that love in this household was conditional—given only when you excelled and performed.
"Smile for the guests, Jenny. You must look confident, powerful," her mother instructed one evening before a dinner party. Jenny complied, adjusting her posture, smoothing her hair, and forcing a polite, rehearsed smile. She had learned that rebellion or defiance brought nothing but consequences.
And yet, inside, Jenny sometimes felt a hollowness she could not name. She envied children who laughed freely, who spoke without fear. But in the Blackwood home, such freedoms were dangerous. Strength was survival; charm was armor. And Jenny had become both.
By the time she turned eighteen, Jenny was striking, poised, and sharp-tongued when needed. She had learned the art of manipulation—subtle, polite, and almost invisible to outsiders. She could twist words, read emotions, and get what she wanted without ever appearing overtly cruel. Her mother smiled proudly, unaware that the girl had begun to craft her own private power, separate from theirs.
But the toxicity of the household was not without cost. Jenny struggled to form genuine friendships; every interaction was weighed against the possibility of betrayal. She grew suspicious, calculating, and self-reliant—qualities that would later make her both alluring and dangerous in Lance's plans.
Despite the glamour and wealth surrounding her, Jenny's world was cold, competitive, and unyielding. She had been molded into a weapon—beautiful, intelligent, and cunning—but like all weapons, she was also fragile, with cracks hidden beneath the polished surface.
Little did she know that the boy she had never met—the boy her family had cast out years ago—was growing stronger, sharper, and closer to returning. Lance's fire, forged from betrayal and hardship, would one day collide with the very world Jenny had been carefully trained to navigate. And when it did, nothing in the Blackwood household would remain the same.