The mansion, usually a haven of warmth and harmony, began to echo with a different rhythm when Lukas's youngest daughter, Sophia, turned four. Liora, now on the cusp of young adulthood, found herself caught in a storm of emotions she could not easily explain. What had once been her world—her father's undivided attention, his laughter, his guidance—was now shared with a tiny sister who seemed to charm everyone with her bright smile and endless curiosity.
One Saturday morning, the entire family gathered in the sunlit breakfast room. Sophia sat on Lukas's lap, giggling as he cut her pancakes into small bites. Bella and Annie exchanged amused smiles, watching Lukas balance fatherly patience with Sophia's playful demands. But across the table, Liora stirred her orange juice with a straw, her eyes clouded with something darker than simple annoyance.
"Papa", Sophia chirped, tugging on Lukas's sleeve, "can we play in the garden after breakfast?"
