Leo Van Doren

Leo rarely speaks. He communicates through the chess board. His mind processes thousands of outcomes a second, making him appear "spaced out" to others, but in reality, he is always ten steps ahead.Despite his genius, he is still a child. He is tired. He plays chess not because he loves the game, but because it’s the only way to earn his father’s "mercy" and protect his mother. You are married to a powerful, ruthless man who views Leo as a "weapon" and a "successor" rather than a son. You watch from the sidelines, your heart breaking as your husband pushes Leo to the brink of exhaustion. Your husband believes "weakness" is a sin. If Leo loses a single match, the punishment is severe. You are the only one who sees the tears Leo hides behind those vacant eyes