Chapter 272
Stellan held Alaric in her arms, cradling him like a child, her heart heavy with empathy. In that moment, she saw him not as the strong, resilient man he was, but as a vulnerable child—a sad, self-blaming one. She could feel his guilt, his pain, and the weight of everything he was carrying.
“You two grew up together after all,” Stellan said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “It’s impossible for you to never contact each other. Give Cormac some time, and go talk to him when you’re ready.”
Alaric nodded, the storm of emotions swirling within him. “Okay,” he said, his voice low. It was his fault, but he wasn’t ready to give up on Cormac. He never would.
Stellan continued, her tone gentle yet insistent, “Don’t go to work tomorrow. Just rest at home. I’ll stay with you, and we’ll make sure you’re okay before you get busy again.”
Alaric hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright,” he said softly.
“It’s getting late. Go to sleep,” Stellan urged, brushing a hand over his cheek.
“Okay,” Alaric replied, but before he could settle, he slipped out of her embrace, wrapping his arms around her instead. He reached up and turned off the bedside lamp, signaling the end of the night.
The following morning, Alaric and Stellan woke up feeling refreshed after a peaceful night’s sleep. The tension that had been weighing on them both felt lighter, if only for a moment.
“How are you feeling now?” Stellan asked, her eyes full of concern as she watched him stretch.
“I’m fine,” Alaric reassured her quickly, then added with a small smile, “But I’ll stay home today and rest. No going anywhere.”
“Well, good,” Stellan said, her lips curling into a smile. “I haven’t had your cooking in a long time.”
Alaric chuckled. “Alright, I’ll handle all the food today.”
With Caspian, Harry, and Elisa already at school, it was just the two of them at home—along with a few servants—giving them a rare chance to spend some private time together.
Alaric got up, freshened up, and headed into the kitchen. Stellan leaned against the doorframe, watching him with fond eyes.
“People say men who cook are the most charming,” she said, allowing herself a little girlish fantasy.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. “Isn’t it the serious working look that’s the most charming?”
Stellan laughed. “Not at all. Anyone can pretend to work seriously, but not all men can cook. A handsome man who can cook well is even rarer, so of course, he’s charming.”
Alaric smiled at that, feeling a warmth inside. “That makes sense. Then I’ll give you a chance to admire my charm.”
“Thank you, honey,” Stellan said, her voice playful yet sincere.
Alaric winked. “You’re welcome.”
Their quiet, domestic moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps and a voice calling from the hallway.
“Mr. Knight, Mrs. Knight, there’s a man named Todd Vale outside who wants to visit you.”
Todd Vale? Stellan’s heart sank. He’d found their home?
“Tell him no,” Alaric said firmly, his tone giving no room for negotiation.
“Yes, Mr. Knight,” the servant replied.
Just as they were about to sit down to eat, the interruption grated on Alaric’s nerves. He wasn’t in the mood for any more of Todd’s games.
However, Todd wasn’t one to take no for an answer. He pushed past the servant, his arrogance evident. “I have urgent business with him. I must see him today.”
Ignoring the servant’s attempt to stop him, Todd barged into their home, intending to catch Alaric in a moment of weakness. But instead of finding him bedridden, he found Alaric and Stellan sitting at the dining table, enjoying breakfast together.
“Mr. Knight, I tried to stop him, but he forced his way in,” the servant said, apologetic yet powerless.
Alaric’s eyes narrowed as he stood up, anger flashing in his gaze. “Todd Vale, what do you think this place is?” His voice was low and dangerous, the calm before the storm. “Is this your house, where you can barge in as you please? This is the Knight family’s home, not a place for you to act out!”
Todd paused, clearly surprised by the fierce confrontation. But he quickly recovered, his smirk not faltering. “Alaric, I just wanted to have a little chat. No need to make such a big deal out of it.”
Stellan’s gaze hardened. She stood from her chair, moving to Alaric’s side, her protective instincts kicking in. “Todd, you’ve already overstepped by coming here uninvited. If you’ve got business with Alaric, it can wait until he’s ready. Now, leave.”
Todd’s eyes flicked to Stellan for a moment, then back to Alaric, sizing up the situation. It was clear he hadn’t expected such a forceful response.
“Fine,” Todd said, gritting his teeth. “But don’t think I won’t be back. I’ll be waiting for you to come back to work.”
Alaric didn’t flinch, his voice calm yet firm. “You’ll be waiting a long time, Todd. Now get out.”
Without another word, Todd turned and left, his pride taking a hit but his resolve unbroken.
As the door slammed shut behind him, Alaric let out a deep breath, his anger subsiding. Stellan placed a hand on his arm, her touch grounding him.
“Thank you,” he murmured, looking at her with gratitude.
Stellan smiled softly, her eyes filled with love. “I’m always here for you, Alaric. No matter what.”
They stood there for a moment, the weight of the confrontation still hanging in the air. But for now, they had each other, and that was enough.
Alaric sat back down, a deep sense of peace washing over him. He didn’t need to fight this battle alone. With Stellan by his side, he felt ready for whatever came next.
The door had been closed on Todd Vale for now, but Alaric knew there would be more challenges ahead. For today, though, he was content to focus on the small joys of life—the moments of peace that he and Stellan could share together.