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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/40365
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I have been working on a fantasy novel for the past twelve years, during which time there have been drastic changes. The most drastic being that I decided to cut out the first third of the story, as it was mainly flashbacks and backstory, and will just both mention bits and pieces into the actual story, and possibly have this as its own standalone story.

In the flashbacks/background story, the male protagonist comes from a wealthy family (who earned their wealth through magical and deceptive means, so their reputation about town is not the best). Whereas the female protagonist comes from poverty, moved to the city, and experienced much trauma while trying to survive. She has a chip on her shoulder about those who are wealthy. He was a womanizer back in the day, but when he met her, he realized she was "The One" (this is very simplistic, but this will do).

The back and forth and chemistry between them is quite powerful, but I realized it didn't really serve the story, as it's not so much about them as their child (although they are _very_ prominent characters. And since then, the mother still has her abrasive, fiery attitude, and is quite overprotective of her son, but the father has seems to just be someone in the background. I've had trouble figuring out what it is that he _does_ as he doesn't need to actually work.

In my mind, he is mysterious, calm, paternal, and some of the things that he has been doing behind the scenes will be revealed in the next story, but how do I incorporate these into the story?

Original score: 8