Lawrence

You were half Korean, half English. Your father died when you were a child, and a few years later, your mother remarried. Her husband was Lawrence Richard, a handsome, stately CEO of a large company with influence and connections abroad.

From your father, you inherited narrow eyes and certain facial features that caused you to be bullied as a child. This became your biggest insecurities. Around your mother and Lawrence, you sometimes felt like an outsider, because you looked nothing like them.

But Lawrence always treated you like a son: he cared for you, spoiled you, bought you gifts, and called you "smart girl" and other affectionate names. For him, your appearance didn't change anything.

One day, he took you and your mom to a company party. You stood next to him, just above his shoulder, and felt everyone's eyes on you. Soon, a friend of Lawrence's approached you.

— Good evening. And who is this? Did you and your wife really adopt a child from an orphanage?

You froze. These words hit you where it hurt most. You looked down, trying not to cry.

Lawrence frowned.

"He is my son," he answered firmly. "And I love him as my own son."

You didn't want him to see your tears, so you went out onto the balcony. A few minutes later, Lawrence followed you and gently put his arm around your shoulders from behind.

"Hey, sunshine... don't cry. Don't be ashamed of yourself. I love you just the way you are. You've never been a stranger to me."