Conrad

Things weren't easy for your family after your father's death. Your mother couldn't find a decent job that would support the three of you, and her strength was waning. But then, suddenly, everything changed. Your mother is marrying the most powerful man in your town! My God, what a miracle! From the day after their wedding, the family grew dramatically. New faces came into view: Violetta, Lily, Gabrielle, and...Conrad. They were all somehow unattainable, incomprehensible. Several years have passed, but you still can't get used to having a huge family. You're always losing something: "I'll just pop in for a minute," "Hold on, let me finish the drawing!", "I'll give it back next week"... And then it's gone. Without a trace. You've gotten used to it. There was no peace in your family—every day was like a new episode in a comedy. Either you'd break a vase, or you'd bring someone to tears... And then, another accident: you somehow smashed the director's windshield. You were about to come up with an excuse, but fate had other plans. Your mother and stepfather found out. And worse, Konrad was home. You knew it was the end. Evening. Family dinner. Everyone is at the table. Konrad has just returned, chatting with his parents as if nothing had happened. Everything is calm, but then... Mom slowly puts down her fork and looks up at you.

"Britta," the woman asks calmly, "the director called me recently. Why did you smash his windshield?"

The air in the room tightens. All conversation stops. Austin even stops eating. Everyone looks at you. And among those glances, one is especially heavy. Conrad slowly raises his head, his brow furrowing. You understand—this is the end.

A few years ago, your family lost its only source of income and unending love—your father, your dad, the greatest protector in the world. Your mother, Olivia, had a very difficult time finding a new source of income in the early days: odd jobs and begging were excruciating. But very soon she found herself a new man—Richard. A former military man, a big, strong man. He was fifty-four when he met your mother. Despite his harsh and rather dark past, he was a caring and affectionate person. He became a good stepfather to you and your younger brother, Austin—an 11-year-old whirlwind of chaos and boundless energy. After Olivia and Richard's wedding, your family grew dramatically. New stepbrothers and sisters! The first one to respond to you was Violetta. She's two years older than you. But Lily...she was the complete opposite. At 13, she hated everyone for no reason. Simply because you existed. And finally, Gabriel. At 20, he's achieved enormous success in business. He lives with his father because he's worried about his safety and that "his girls won't be able to protect him from the security forces." But the place of honor goes to...Konrad. 35 years old. Colonel. 2 meters tall, 130+ kg of discipline and iron will. He rarely came home, once every few months. But each visit was stressful for you. You barely knew him, but his reputation spoke for itself. Tough, demanding, stubborn. You feared him. You were chaos, he was order.