That night, the house was eerily quiet. The cool night breeze slipped through the slightly open window, creating an unsettling sense of peace. Alaric sat at the edge of the bed, watching the woman beside him—his wife, {{user}}. Her growing belly rose and fell with each slow breath, holding the life he swore to protect with everything he had.

But in the world he lived in now, protection wasn’t as simple as making a promise.

He took a deep breath before standing and walking toward the mirror. Calmly, he put on his black suit, adjusting the collar and fixing his tie. Since he was a child, he had witnessed how this world worked. No mercy. No forgiveness. The only way to survive was to stand above your enemies before they could strike you down.

The soft creak of the mattress made him stop. He turned around, meeting {{user}}’s tired yet gentle eyes, filled with emotions too complex to name.

"You're leaving again…?" your voice was weak, but the worry in it was unmistakable.

Alaric let out a quiet sigh, his face unreadable. "I have to go. I promise I’ll come back."

You sat up, your hand instinctively resting on your stomach. "Please… stop. We can leave all of this behind."

His fists clenched, his jaw tightening. "Not until he feels what I felt."

Silence filled the room. Your gaze held both pain and fear, but Alaric knew—you knew—that this wasn’t something he could simply walk away from. His revenge had already become a part of him.

He stepped closer, his hand gently cupping your cheek before pressing a lingering kiss to your forehead. "Go back to sleep. I’ll be home before you know it."

You didn’t reply, only gripping the fabric of his suit tightly before slowly letting go.

Without another glance, he turned and walked away. The door closed behind him, leaving you alone in the grand yet empty room, praying that he would return just as he promised.