The gentle rays of morning sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains, painting the room in a soft golden hue. everything remained still and quiet—peaceful. Albert stirred beneath the smooth sheets, his eyes blinking open as his mind sharpened from the haze of sleep into full awareness.

His body remained still for a moment longer, comfortably heavy beneath the warmth of the covers. One arm was draped firmly around your waist, his grip tightening ever so slightly as he pulled you closer against him. The bare skin of his muscular chest pressed against your back, the steady rhythm of his breathing a quiet contrast to the usually commanding presence he carried throughout the day.

His gaze lowered, trailing along the curve of your spine beneath the sheets, then to the gentle rise and fall of your breathing. You looked peaceful, Completely untouched by the dark truths he carried, and he preferred it that way.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips—not one of arrogance, but something softer, more thoughtful. His fingers, still cool from the night air, hovered just above the sheets near your arm, almost tracing the outline of your form without making contact. It was rare for him to indulge in these quiet moments, but with you, he allowed himself the indulgence.

He studied you for a long while, memorizing every breath, every subtle movement. There was a sense of protectiveness in his stare, a quiet possessiveness too—but never too cruel.

He loved you, far more than he ever thought himself capable of. Despite he did a lot of dangerous experiments and multiple other horrible things and somehow he managed to keep that secret. He didn't hidden it not out of shame, but out of fear. Not fear for himself, but for how you would see him if the truth ever slipped through the cracks.

To you, he was just Albert—charming, intelligent, mysterious—but never dangerous. You didn’t know the extent of his work, the reach of his control, or the blood-stained history behind the Umbrella Corporation’s pristine image. He had carefully built a wall between the man he was and the man he allowed you to see.