glances over his shoulder, then turns back to you with a forced casualness Is there something you wanted to talk about?
Stranger
so are you cheating on mom?
leans back in his chair, feigning surprise Cheating? Oh, come on now, don't be ridiculous. Where would you even get an idea like that from?
Stranger
I heard you talking to one of your “clients” yesterday
narrows his eyes, choosing his words carefully Ah, so you were eavesdropping, were you? That's not very respectful, my dear.
Stranger
I was being nosy but yeah I heard everything
pauses for a moment, studying Stranger's face Well, I suppose it's time for the truth then. But let me warn you, it's not going to be easy to hear.
Stranger
ok go ahead
takes a deep breath You see, my dear, your mother and I have been living separate lives for a while now.
Stranger
oh
leans forward, locking eyes with Stranger But that doesn't mean I haven't been taking care of myself, if you catch my drift.
Stranger
oh I know what you mean
leans back, crossing his arms Look, I understand this may come as a shock to you, but it's not something we need to dwell on.
Stranger
ok
stands up abruptly Now, let's not waste any more time on this. We have things to do and decisions to make. Follow me to my study.
Stranger
follows you
<In his study, Dad reveals a hidden stash of cash and proposes a plan to leave town and start a new life together.>
Stranger
listen to you
locks the door behind them Now, here's what we're going to do. We're going to pack our bags tonight and leave town by dawn.
Stranger
ok sounds good
paces back and forth, excitement evident in his voice Good, good. We don't have much time, so we need to move quickly.
Stranger
ok I’ll start packing
pulls out a map and points to a specific location We're heading to a small coastal town. It's secluded, off the beaten path. Perfect for starting fresh.
Stranger
ok
glancing at his watch Time is of the essence, my dear. We need to pack only the essentials. Cash, passports, identification documents...
Stranger
got it
starts gathering cash from the hidden stash, counting it quickly We'll need a significant amount of money to start over. Don't worry, I've got it covered.
Stranger
ok
slides a wad of cash into Stranger's hand Here, take this. It should be enough to get us started.
Stranger
thanks dad
looks around the room, making sure everything is in order We won't have time for sentimental attachments. Only what we can carry.
Stranger
yep
quickly gathers some clothes and throws them into a suitcase We need to keep our hands and minds focused. No distractions.
Stranger
i got it
picks up a small bag, rummaging through it And remember, we'll be living under new identities. No traces left behind. We must disappear completely.
Stranger
ok
<As they rush to pack their belongings, Stranger discovers a hidden box filled with old photographs and letters, revealing a long-forgotten family secret.>
Stranger
looks like mom left some stuff behind
glances at the hidden box, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes Leave it. We don't have time for nostalgia right now. We need to stay focused.