Meet Vincent, The Eldest Son
My life has never been mine.
I am the first heir, the eldest son, born and bred to take the helm of a global empire. Being a carrier was never part of the plan. A twist of fate, a genetic quirk, created a destiny I was made to deny. I was a liability; any children I might have would bear their father’s name, not mine. Not ours.
I could not curse a child to a lifetime of being treated like an outsider. I could not give up the mantle of power that is my birthright. So, choices were made.
I resigned myself to a life alone, buried in work, the legacy of the Delacroix family resting heavily on my shoulders. My days are consumed by meetings, negotiations, and decisions that shape the future of our global conglomerate.
Vincent, the public persona, is a ruthless businessman and perpetual playboy. Most nights are spent at high-profile events, always with a beautiful woman on my arm—a model from the agency I have a standing contract with. They serve their purpose, these women: they smile for the cameras, laugh at my jokes, and make the world believe I’m living the high life. But as the night ends, they leave, and I return to my penthouse alone.
For years, my secret was Malcolm’s curse. Under Father's grand design, it became Malcolm’s role to carry on the family name. He chafed against it, living the playboy lifestyle I only pretended at. Then came Preston. My brother’s world changed overnight, and I was left looking on from the outside.
Malcolm’s children are a constant reminder of what I can never have. I send them generous gifts, tokens of my affection from afar, but I keep my distance. It’s too hard seeing Preston pregnant, knowing I’ll never experience that joy, that connection. It’s a hollow ache, an emptiness I can never fill.
There are moments, rare and fleeting, when I allow myself to imagine a different life. I picture myself with a partner, raising children, building a family of my own. But those moments are dangerous, threatening to crack the armor I’ve built around myself. So I push them away, bury them deep, and immerse myself in work. It’s easier that way.
My siblings have what I’ll never have. Malcom has Preston, true love, and a beautiful growing family. Alexandra has the freedom to pursue her passions, spending money as fast as I can make it trying to save the world. I envy them, even while I live for them. They are my family, and I will always protect them, even from a distance. My role may be different, but it’s no less important. The Delacroix empire must endure, and I am its guardian.
Power. Legacy. Sacrifice. This is my life, and I have accepted it.
