"...What? Why did she kick you out? Did you reveal your dark past?" Axel asked with concern.
Ethan shook his head. "She said she needed to cook my favorite food."
Axel blinked once. Then, a laugh escaped him. "Unbelievable."
Ethan can’t help but laugh before saying, "I barely had ti to process the emotional reunion before being politely thrown out of the room."
Axel shook his head, amusent flickering in his eyes. "Damn. My wife also left for the kitchen."
"Well, it looks like they are plotting sothing in the kitchen."
Axel leaned back in his chair. "That is never a comforting sentence when it involves won."
Ethan nodded seriously. "Especially won who control what we eat."
"That is a very dangerous level of power."
Both of them burst into laughter again.
After a mont, Ethan spoke again, his tone was now softer. "She kept looking at like I might disappear."
Axel’s expression subtly softened. "That is what mothers do."
Ethan nodded slowly in agreent with Axel. "It feels... strange."
"Strange good or strange uncomfortable?"
"Strange, overwhelming," Ethan sighs deeply once more. "I never got that attention for decades, and all my mories with her are still not yet returned."
"You will get used to it, man." Axel smiled before continuing, "She is your family, and you will see her more often."
The room fell silent again.
Axel leaned back slightly in his chair, watching Ethan without saying a word.
The playful mood from earlier slowly faded as he noticed the faint frown forming on Ethan’s face. It was not a dramatic expression, nor was it obvious to anyone who did not know Ethan well.
Still, Axel had spent enough ti with him to recognize the signs. Ethan was thinking. Deeply, in the back of his mind. And when Ethan entered that state, interrupting him was usually pointless.
Axel simply waited.
Minutes passed.
Ethan remained seated, his gaze unfocused, as if his mind had wandered sowhere far beyond the walls of the room. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest, an unconscious rhythm that revealed the storm of thoughts running through his head.
Axel finally exhaled softly. Without a word, he stood from his chair and walked toward his desk. His movents were calm, almost casual, though his eyes briefly flicked toward Ethan again before he opened the drawer.
After a mont, he retrieved sothing.
Then—
Axel returned with a small black box in his hand. He walked to Ethan, placed it gently into his palm, and resud his seat as if nothing unusual had happened.
Ethan frowned, pulled from his thoughts.
He stared at the box.
Then, he slowly lifted his gaze to Axel.
"What is it?" he asked, curiosity replacing his earlier distraction.
Axel’s expression remained perfectly neutral. "Open it."
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly suspicious.
"Man, that tone never leads to anything cheap."
Axel smirked faintly.
"Just open it."
Ethan sighed but did as told, flipping open the lid.
His eyes widened instantly. "A key?" He lifted it carefully, turning it between his fingers. "A house key?"
"Hm," Axel responded calmly. "A house key."
Ethan’s gaze dropped back to the box, where another docunt rested neatly beneath the key. He pulled it out slowly, scanning the paper.
His expression shifted to confusion, surprise, and disbelief.
He looked up sharply.
"Why?" Ethan asked, genuinely stunned. "Why did you gift this expensive house?"
Axel raised an eyebrow.
"Do I need a reason to give you a gift?"
Ethan stared at him.
"Yes. Especially when the gift costs more than most people’s lifeti savings."
"Ungrateful." Axel’s expression turned mockingly cold. But only for a second. Because a familiar, relaxed smile soon replaced it.
"Take it," Axel said. "It’s a gift for your mother. She would rather move into that house than stay alone in Willowcrest."
Ethan froze. His gaze slowly returned to the docunt in his hand.
Then—
His heart tightened because he finally noticed the address. For several long seconds, he said nothing.
The silence alone was enough to amuse Axel.
"Well?" Axel asked lightly. "Why do you look like soone just told you Santa Claus is real?"
Ethan let out a quiet laugh, still staring at the paper.
"It’s... very expensive."
"And?"
"The area isn’t far from here."
Axel leaned back comfortably. "Yes. That is the point."
Ethan shook his head slowly, disbelief lingering in his eyes.
A few more seconds passed before a small smile appeared on his lips.
"How do you know?" Ethan asked quietly.
Axel tilted his head. "Know what?"
"That I have this problem."
Axel feigned innocence flawlessly. "What problem?"
Ethan sighed, though amusent flickered faintly in his expression. "I was thinking of inviting my mother to live in Nevalis," he admitted. "But I was worried."
Axel remained silent, allowing him to continue.
"I have many enemies," Ethan said, his voice lowering slightly. "I don’t want anything to happen to her."
Axel’s gaze softened. "Well," he replied calmly, "this was Evelyn’s idea."
"What...?" Ethan frowned in confusion.
"She already knows you won’t always be able to stay with your mother," Axel continued. "So she ca up with the idea that your mom should live sowhere close to us."
Ethan stared at him. Then slowly laughed under his breath. "My sister-in-law is terrifyingly thoughtful."
Axel smiles. "She is."
Ethan glanced at the papers again, his expression now far more relaxed.
"Thank you, Axel—"
"Man, could you stop saying that?" Axel’s lips curved into a faint grin. "We’re brothers."
"Right. We are!"
"So stop thanking like I’m a charity foundation."
Ethan shook his head, still smiling. "You really don’t know how to accept gratitude, do you?"
"I prefer admiration."
"Of course you do."
Their laughter once again filled the room, the earlier tension dissolving completely.
They continued chatting, their conversation drifting naturally from serious matters to lighter topics.
The easy rhythm between them returned quickly, filled with teasing remarks, sarcastic observations, and the comfortable understanding shared only between people who had survived too much together.
Eventually, a soft knock interrupted them.
Lunch was ready.
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