occupying the space at the top of the tree, deciding who gets to join them and who doesn’t; allowing Clara, Tina and Dora into their circle, but only if they present themselves as sexual fantasies while protecting the family secrets; allowing Stevens the butler into their circle, but only if he serves the family secrets over his own welfare; presenting themselves as a family group whose acceptance Grace would love to have. As soon as all of that is ripped away in the blink of an eye – as soon as that world literally ends with the death of that fragile, precarious, corrupt system – Alex denounces it and seeks acceptance elsewhere.

He didn’t denounce it when he met Grace, though. Nor when he realised marriage was in their future. Nor when she drew the Hide And Seek card. He always k...

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