From Vows to Desire

Chapter 1: A Return to London

Scene 1: Arrival at the Airport

Heathrow Airport buzzed with the usual chaos of arriving flights. Theodore Reginald Palmer, or simply Theo, weaved through the crowd, his luggage rolling smoothly behind him. The sharp autumn air hit him the moment he stepped outside, a stark contrast to the cold steel of New York’s towering skyscrapers. A familiar figure stood by the carpark, patiently waiting.

Edward: (smiling broadly) "Mr. Palmer, welcome back, sir."

Theo: (grins as he approaches Edward, shaking his hand) "Edward, it's good to see you. How long have you been waiting?"

Edward: (chuckling lightly) "Not long at all, sir. I had a feeling you’d be punctual. Let me take that for you."

Edward grabs Theo’s luggage, leading him to the sleek black Bentley parked nearby. Theo’s eyes linger on the familiar London streets as they drive, a city he hadn't seen in four years. The weight of why he was back hung heavy in the car’s silence.

Theo: (gazing out the window, voice soft) "How’s my father?"

Edward: (pauses for a moment, choosing his words carefully) "Stable for now, sir. Mrs. Palmer has been by his side since the incident."

Theo nods, his jaw tightening as he sinks back into the leather seat. The familiar streets of Kensington soon appear, and before long, they pull up in front of the grand Palmer residence, a home Theo hadn’t set foot in for far too long.

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Scene 2: Homecoming

The grand double doors of the Palmer estate swung open the moment Theo stepped out of the car. His mother, Victoria Palmer, stood at the threshold, her elegance as impeccable as ever, dressed in a cream-colored dress that flowed as gracefully as she moved.

Victoria: (arms opening slightly, her smile warm yet restrained) "Theo, darling, you’ve finally come home."

Theo: (stepping forward into her embrace, his voice softer than usual) "Mother."

As Victoria pulled back from the hug, her eyes traveled over her son’s face, her fingers instinctively reaching up to brush through his beard, her touch delicate yet critical.

Victoria: (arching a brow, teasing) "Have you forgotten to groom yourself in New York? You look like a wild man."

Theo: (grinning, shrugging slightly) "I’ve been a bit too busy to worry about appearances."

Victoria: (smirking) "I can see that. But, you’re home now, so no more excuses. Go freshen up, darling. Take a shower before your father wakes up for dinner. He’s been asking for you."

Theo nods, taking one last glance at his mother before heading upstairs to his old room. As he walked the halls, memories of his childhood flooded back. But there was no escaping the shadow of his father's illness, the reason for his return looming in every corner of the house.

---

Scene 3: Familiar Spaces

Theo pushed open the door to his old room, expecting it to have changed after four years of his absence. But it hadn't. The room stood as a preserved relic of the past, untouched, yet spotless—clean to the point of perfection. The large oak desk by the window, the bookshelves lined with novels and trophies, the framed photos of him and his friends. Everything was just as he left it.

Theo: (softly to himself, running a hand over the desk) "Just like I never left..."

He walked into the adjoining bathroom, the familiar space bringing a sense of comfort as he turned on the shower. Steam quickly filled the room, and as the hot water cascaded over his skin, his thoughts drifted.