Shadows of the Hidden King
ep 01
grace whitelock
(slowly opens her eyes, the soft morning light streaming into the room. As her vision clears, she sees her baby brother, Eli, sitting nearby, playing with the floppy ears on his cap. He looks up at her with wide, curious eyes).
eli whitelock
(giggles, his small fingers still tugging at the cap’s ears, his gaze fixed on Grace).
grace whitelock
(smiles warmly, her heart filling with affection as she watches him) "Good morning, little one," (she whispers, reaching out to him).
eli whitelock
(tilts his head slightly, his eyes sparkling with innocence) "Sister..." (he murmurs, a smile spreading across his face as he reaches out toward her).
grace whitelock
(lifts her hand, and Eli eagerly scoots closer, climbing into her arms with a happy giggle).
grace whitelock
(cradles him gently, leaning in to kiss his cheek) "You're too cute for your own good," (she whispers affectionately, her heart swelling with love).
eli whitelock
(snuggles into her embrace, his tiny hands holding onto her) "Sister," (he murmurs contentedly, feeling safe and loved).
grace whitelock
(gets up from the bed, holding Eli securely in her arms. He rests his head on her shoulder, nuzzling into her neck with a sleepy sigh).
grace whitelock
(softly) "What did you dream about, little one?" (she asks, gently rubbing his back as she walks toward the living room).
eli whitelock
(mumbles sleepily, still half-asleep) "About us...playing..." (he says with a small smile, his voice trailing off).
grace whitelock
(smiles, placing him gently on the sofa) "That sounds like a wonderful dream," (she replies warmly).
lily whitelock
(appears, rubbing her eyes, looking sleepy as she shuffles into the room).
grace whitelock
(leans down and hugs Lily, pulling her into a warm embrace) "Good morning, Lily," (she says softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her sister’s face).
lily whitelock
(yawns and leans into Grace’s hug) "Morning, sister..." (she murmurs, still waking up, but comforted by her sister’s presence).
lily whitelock
(looks up at Grace with sleepy eyes, still nestled in her sister's embrace) "Sister..." (she murmurs softly, her small voice carrying a hint of need).
grace whitelock
(smiles down at Lily, gently stroking her hair) "Yes, Lily?" (she asks with warmth, sensing her sister's needs).
lily whitelock
(rubs her eyes, her tummy rumbling softly) "I'm hungry..." (she says, looking up at Grace with a hopeful expression).
grace whitelock
(chuckles softly, giving Lily a reassuring squeeze) "Let's get you something to eat, then," (she replies, standing up and goes towards the kitchen).
Ryan Whitelock
(steps out of his room, his eyes immediately drawn to his little ones. He sees Lily sitting with Eli, listening attentively to his cheerful blabbering).
eli whitelock
(waves his tiny hands excitedly as he tells his nonsensical story, while Lily giggles, fully entertained by her baby brother).
Ryan Whitelock
(watches them for a moment, his gaze then shifting to his elder daughter, Grace. He feels a swell of pride as he observes her quietly managing the morning routine).
Ryan Whitelock
(feels a pang of sadness as he realizes the weight of responsibility and pressure that Grace has taken on. Despite his numerous jobs, Grace has been handling all the household chores and caring for both Lily and Eli on her own. He never wanted her to bear such a burden, but she has done so with remarkable strength and dedication).
Ryan Whitelock
(takes a deep breath, silently acknowledging Grace’s sacrifices and the immense pride he feels in her, mixed with regret for not being able to be more present).
Ryan Whitelock
(walks over to Grace, his heart full of mixed emotions. He wraps his arms around her in a warm hug, holding her close).
Ryan Whitelock
(gently kisses Grace's forehead) "Good morning," (he says softly, his voice filled with both tenderness and a hint of sadness).
grace whitelock
(smiles up at him, her eyes reflecting a mixture of warmth and concern).
Ryan Whitelock
(notices how Grace’s features are so similar to his late wife, Hope. The resemblance is striking, bringing back bittersweet memories of the past. He feels a deep sense of connection to her, as if Hope's spirit is present in Grace).
grace whitelock
(smiles warmly up at her father) "Dad, you sit down. Let me serve breakfast," (she says, her tone both caring and cheerful).
Ryan Whitelock
(nods, his heart swelling with pride and gratitude. He takes a seat at the table, watching as Grace moves to prepare breakfast, feeling a mixture of admiration and sadness).
grace whitelock
(begins setting the table and arranging the breakfast items, her movements efficient and practiced as she takes care of the morning meal for the family).
grace whitelock
(gently feeds Eli, her movements practiced and tender as she spoons food into his eager little mouth).
eli whitelock
(smiles and giggles between bites, clearly enjoying the attention and his breakfast).
grace whitelock
(sits down beside him, eating her own breakfast while keeping a watchful eye on Eli. She takes bites of her meal with a calm, satisfied expression, balancing both tasks effortlessly).
dead person
Everyone is having breakfast at the table.
Ryan Whitelock
"I’m heading to work now. Have a good day, everyone." (He stands up and leaves).
dead person
Lily is wearing her school uniform and putting on her shoes.
grace whitelock
"I’ll finish up here." (Washes the dishes, then bathes Eli. She moves on to fixing Lily’s hair, her hands working carefully).
lily whitelock
"Thank you, Big Sis." (She smiles at Grace, showing her respect and affection.)
grace whitelock
"You’re welcome, Lily. Let’s make sure you’re ready for school." (She continues arranging Lily’s hair with care.)
dead person
Grace gets ready for college, her morning routine brisk and focused. She then prepares to take Eli to daycare.
grace whitelock
"Alright, Eli, let’s get you to daycare." (She picks him up and carries him to the door.)
dead person
At the daycare, Grace gently places Eli down and kneels to his level.
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