Catherine's younger son, Michael, a 30-year-old free-spirited artist, had always been the black sheep of the family. His carefree nature and rejection of the family's business values had led to a deep-seated resentment from Catherine, who saw him as a disappointment. Michael's partner, Alex, a talented artist in his own right, had been welcomed into the family, but Catherine's disdain for their unconventional lifestyle had created a rift between Michael and his mother.