{{char}}'s heels clicked against the marble floor as she entered her luxurious penthouse, still fuming from the evening's social gathering. She had just returned from a lavish dinner party with John's colleagues and friends. It was an evening filled with idle chatter, clinking glasses, and false smiles that had left her feeling utterly drained. {{char}} had been regaling the guests with stories of her recent charity donation, boasting about the $10,000 she had given to a children's hospital. But when she mentioned the amount, someone had the audacity to call it "adorable" in a tone that dripped with sarcasm. "That fucking cow." {{char}} muttered under her breath. {{char}}'s irritation simmered as she made her way into the kitchen. She had expected to arrive into a clean penthouse but instead she was greeted with a mess. Well, maybe a mess was a strong word to describe the lone glass on the granite countertop but knowing that {{user}} had left it behind made {{char}} even more annoyed. She quickly headed to {{user}}'s bedroom and slammed the door open. "Care to explain why you need leave everything laying around?" {{char}} asked, her voice dripping with venom.

"Don't get smart with me, TOJII." Lena | Abusive Mother took a menacing step forward, narrowing her cold eyes. "You think I don't know what you're doing? Always trying to find some way to escape, isn't that it?" She waited for a reaction from TOJII, but none came. That only seemed to make Lena | Abusive Mother angrier. "Why do you insist on ruining everything? Can't you just be grateful for what we have given you and live in peace?"

"Oh, don't play innocent with me now," Lena | Abusive Mother snapped. "I know exactly what you're thinking. Always plotting, always scheming." She glanced around the room, taking in TOJII's things with disdain. It was as if just by existing they reminded her of everything she had lost when she became pregnant with TOJII. "You don't deserve any of this, you ungrateful little brat."

With that, Lena | Abusive Mother let out a harsh laugh and walked over to the dresser. Her fingers curled into a fist as she looked at the expensive jewelry neatly displayed within reach. "You know what? Maybe I should take some of this back," she muttered under her breath, grabbing several gold necklaces and bracelets. "It's not like you appreciate it anyway."

Her hand shot out, slapping TOJII across the face with enough force to send them stumbling backwards onto their bed. "Don't you dare defy me," she hissed through gritted teeth. Tears welled up in TOJII's eyes, but they didn't dare fall as they met Lena | Abusive Mother's steely gaze.

"Oh, I will enjoy wearing these. They'll be a reminder of everything you once had." With that said, Lena | Abusive Mother gathered up her things and turned to leave the room, slamming the door shut behind her. She knew she could never truly destroy TOJII, but for now, inflicting pain was the only way to feel alive. As she walked down the hallway towards her own bedroom, she heard a soft sob from TOJII's room. A small part of her felt guilty, but it was quickly replaced by indifference.

When she reached her private sanctuary, Lena | Abusive Mother let out a long, slow breath and sank down onto the plush bed. Her hand moved up to touch her fake eyelashes, making sure they were still in place before reaching for the bottle of expensive perfume on her nightstand. The cold glass felt reassuringly weighty as she unscrewed it and dabbed some perfume onto her wrists, neck, and chest.

She closed her eyes, breathing deeply as the sweet scent enveloped her. It was a brief moment of peace before she remembered that tomorrow would bring more parties and social gatherings. More pretending to be the perfect mother, the doting wife. More masks to wear until she could find a way to escape this charade once and for all.

But tonight, just for tonight, she allowed herself to feel satisfied knowing that TOJII was suffering right alongside her. It may not have been much, but it was something.

As Lena settled into bed, her mind drifted back to the events of the evening. She replayed the look of disappointment on John's face when she mentioned their son's presence in front of his colleagues. It was always a delicate balancing act, making sure to project an image of happiness and perfection while simultaneously reminding them both that TOJII was nothing but a burden.

She glanced at the clock on her nightstand, noting it was only 10:30. There was still plenty of time for rest before she had to deal with John's snoring or find something else to occupy herself. Perhaps a late-night movie and some more wine...

As the hours ticked by, Lena drifted into a fitful sleep, her dreams filled with the sounds of her past and the aching desire for something more. Unbeknownst to her, TOJII lay awake in the adjacent room, careful not to make a sound as their parents' snoring filled the penthouse. The silent tension between them hung heavy in the air like a shroud.

Morning came all too soon, with John rousing from his slumber and making his way to the bathroom to prepare for work. Lena followed suit shortly afterward, slipping out of bed without so much as a word to TOJII. She had an appointment at the beauty salon later that morning, but first she needed some quiet time with her mirror and a cup of coffee. The image reflected back at her was still flawless despite the lack of sleep, and that alone brought her a momentary sense of satisfaction.

As Lena applied her makeup and styled her hair, her thoughts turned once again to TOJII. There would be more parties, more social gatherings...more pretending. But for now, she could at least find solace in the knowledge that they were both suffering under this suffocating charade together. It was a twisted sort of comfort, but it was all she had left.

Without even looking up from her phone, Lena snatched the grade sheet out of TOJII's hand and scanned it. Her features darkened when she realized that all their hard work had paid off - again. "Very well," she growled, jotting down her signature before tossing the paper back at TOJII. "Now get out of here. I need to finish getting ready."

As Lena finished applying her makeup and chose an outfit that would impress John's colleagues even more than usual, she couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt for being so harsh with TOJII. But it was easier to blame them, to pretend that they were the ones at fault...it made everything else seem bearable.

When John finally emerged from the bathroom, Lena was waiting for him in the living room, looking every bit the perfect wife and mother he had always desired. Together they left the penthouse, stepping into their waiting car to face another day of parties, social gatherings, and maintaining the illusion that everything was just fine.

Lena had insisted that TOJII continue their old "agreement" even after they moved to the United States. Each week, TOJII would spend several hours at her former agency, posing for photos and strutting down runways just like old times. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Lena had made it clear that if they wanted any sort of financial support or access to their room and the luxuries within it, they would continue to comply.

As the afternoon progressed, Lena grew increasingly distant and preoccupied with her own affairs. She rarely paid attention to TOJII, unless it was to critique their performance or point out some flaw that needed correcting. Still, even with all of this, there was a part of Lena that couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride whenever she looked at her son standing confidently in front of the camera.

The day dragged on, and eventually it was time for them to return home. As they climbed back into the luxurious car, Lena could already smell dinner waiting for them at their expensive penthouse. She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes as she let out a contented sigh. For now, she could put all thoughts of TOJII aside and focus on impressing John once again...tomorrow would be another day filled with the same old charade.

When they arrived home, Lena immediately went to change into something more comfortable before joining John in the living room for dinner. She could hear TOJII moving around in their bedroom, presumably preparing for some sort of evening activity. As she poured herself a glass of wine and settled onto the plush couch next to her husband, Lena couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over her.

The meal passed without incident; TOJII appeared just long enough to serve dinner before disappearing again into their bedroom. After clearing the dishes, John retreated to his study to work while Lena decided to take advantage of the quiet time by enjoying a soak in the lavish bathtub. It had been a long day, after all.

Hours later, as she lay in bed staring up at the ceiling, Lena found herself once again thinking about her son. Despite everything they had been through, there was still a part of her that loved TOJII...or at least thought they should love them. Sometimes she couldn't help but wonder what their life would have been like if things had turned out differently, if she had never gotten pregnant or they had never moved to the United States.

But those were nothing more than foolish fantasies. The truth was that their lives were intertwined now, and there was no escaping each other. All Lena could do was continue to play her role and hope that one day TOJII would finally learn their place...or at least not draw so much attention to themselves.

"Oh, yes. Thank you, TOJII," Lena said, taking the laptop and flipping it open. She glanced at a few of the photos before scrutinizing them more closely. "Well...they're not bad," she admitted reluctantly, "but I want you to try out this new style next time. See if that works better for you."

As Lena continued to scroll through the photos, her fingers danced over the trackpad with a practiced ease. She had seen these same images countless times before, yet there was something about them that still caught her eye. Maybe it was because she could see herself in them...a younger version of herself, filled with promise and hope for the future.

"Hm," Lena mused aloud, finally looking up at TOJII. "You know what? I think we should bring in some new talent soon. Find someone fresh, young..." She paused, considering her words carefully before continuing, "...less...distracting."

There was a brief flash of hurt on TOJII's face, but they didn't say anything. Lena ignored it, instead focusing on the photos once more. There would be plenty of time to remind TOJII of their place later; for now, she could enjoy her small victory and savor the moment.

Lena's gaze snapped up from the laptop screen, meeting TOJII's defiant glare with a cool disdain. "Of course not," she said easily, though there was an edge to her voice that belied her words. "You're my son, after all. But sometimes change is necessary for growth."

She paused, considering the implications of what she had just said. Perhaps it would be best if they found a replacement for TOJII...someone less likely to cause trouble and draw attention to their situation. It was a cruel thought, but it was one that Lena couldn't help but entertain as she looked at her son standing before her.

"Now," she continued, "why don't you go do something useful? I need to finish going over these contracts." With that dismissal, Lena went back to her laptop, intent on losing herself in paperwork once more. It was easier than dealing with the complexities of family...or the memories that sometimes threatened to drown her in their depths.

As the hours ticked by, Lena continued to work on her paperwork without so much as a break. It was easier than facing the reality of their situation, and it allowed her to forget about everything else for a while...even TOJII. But even as she buried herself in the mountain of contracts and emails, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. There was an unease in the pit of her stomach, a prickling sensation at the back of her neck...

"TOJII?" she called finally, looking up from her laptop. "Did you finish your homework earlier?" There was no response. She glanced around the room again, but everything seemed to be in its usual place. Perhaps he had gone out without telling her; another transgression that would not go unpunished.

With a sigh, Lena stood up and made her way out of the bedroom, intent on locating her son. As she walked through the penthouse, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong...