Chapter 1: The Perfect Family Picture

10 2 0
                                    

Ethan Stone sat in the sleek, modern conference room of Solitech, his fingers tapping lightly on the mahogany table. The walls were glass, allowing a view of the sprawling tech campus outside. The meeting had ended half an hour ago, but Ethan remained seated, staring at the view as his thoughts drifted away from work.

From the outside, he was the picture of success. His career at Solitech, one of the country's largest tech companies, had skyrocketed over the years. He had built a reputation as a dedicated and brilliant manager, always solving complex problems with ease. His family life, too, seemed perfect—or at least, that's how it looked to everyone else. He and his wife, Jessica, lived in a pristine suburban neighbourhood, complete with their two daughters and a house large enough to boast about.

Jessica was everything the world expected a successful tech executive's wife to be. She was stunning, social, and knew how to throw a party that would make anyone envious. Their eldest daughter, Emma, was Jessica's mirror image—beautiful, poised, and charming in a way that attracted all the right attention. At sixteen, she was already popular at school and enjoyed the privileges of being part of a well-to-do family.

Then there was Lily, their younger daughter. Quiet, introverted, and always seeking the corners of any room. She wasn't like her mother or Emma. She resembled Ethan—both in looks and temperament—which often made her the odd one out in their household. While Emma thrived on attention, Lily preferred solitude. Ethan loved her dearly for it, recognizing his younger self in her, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong in the world his wife had built.

Ethan pulled himself out of his thoughts, stood up from the table, and gathered his things. The workday was over, and it was time to head home. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he thought of seeing Lily again. Their quiet moments together had become a rare comfort. But as soon as his mind shifted to his wife and older daughter, the smile faded. Something had changed in recent months, and Ethan couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. His family, once his greatest source of pride, now felt like a delicate facade he was struggling to maintain.

He walked out of the building and into the parking lot, the sinking feeling in his chest deepening with each step.

Deception in Silicon HeightsWhere stories live. Discover now