Milo’s big eyes were already welling up. "Brother Adi... I’m sorry..." he whispered, voice cracking. "It’s because of me, right? Because you stayed with me in the hospital? I’m sorry..."
Adrian shook his head fiercely, stepping forward and standing in front of Milp. His cold mask cracked open, replaced with deep emotions that made Milo’s heart twist. "No, no — Milo, you listen to me," Adrian said, his voice low but steady now. He gently cupped Milo’s chin in his calloused hand. "This is not your fault. Not even a little bit. Do you hear me? I chose to be there. I wanted to be there. I’d do it again and again and again."
Milo’s tears slid down his cheeks anyway. He clutched Adrian’s robe sleeve. "But your job..."
"I can get another job," Adrian said firmly. "I can do anything. But you — you needed me. That’s all that matters."
Julian stepped forward too, his hands settling on Adrian’s shoulders as if to anchor him. "Brother Adi, you did the right thing," Julian said, voice thick. "Don’t ever doubt it. And we’re here. All of us. We’ll help you."
Karl, who’d been standing awkwardly with his arms crossed, finally stomped over with a dramatic sniff. Wrapping an arm around Milo’s shoulder, and leaned in close to Adrian with a pout. "Hmph! We’ll help you find a better job! A job where they don’t treat you like trash for loving your family!" he grumbled. He jabbed a finger at Adrian’s chest, eyes wide and watery. "And if they come here, I’ll bite them! I’m very scary!"
The way Karl puffed out his cheeks made Milo giggle through his tears — just a tiny spark, but it was enough to make Adrian’s shoulders ease a fraction. Ruby couldn’t help it — she reached over and flicked Karl’s forehead, earning a dramatic yelp.
To make Adrian’s heart feel lighter, Julian quietly went into the kitchen after they all settled down. He tied his apron, rolled up his sleeves, and started pulling out all the things he needed and the ingredients for all of Adrian’s favourite dishes.
He cooked without saying much, his gentle hum filling the quiet house. The smell delicious food spread through the rooms like a hug, and even Karl, who was still clinging to Adrian like a koala, perked up when he sniffed the air.
When dinner was ready, Julian brought out dish after dish, each one simple but made with so much care. Milo sat beside Adrian, whispering, Eat more, brother Adi... And Adrian did, bit by bit, his stiff shoulders easing a little with every bite.
At the end, Julian brought out a small dessert, soft sweet buns drizzled with honey and tiny chopped fruits. Adrian’s lips curled in a bright smile, his eyes wet but brighter now. He squeezed Julian’s wrist in thanks, the words caught in his throat but clear in his eyes.
After dinner, the table stayed warm with quiet laughter. Karl, Milo, and even Adrian found themselves gathered on the floor with books open in front of them — they’d been waiting for this part all day, when Ruby would usually teach them new words and how to read better.
Because of her, they had learned so much — how to read stories, how to write their names in careful letters, how to understand the big words in the papers she sometimes brought home.
Tonight, though, Ruby just shook her head as she looked at their hopeful faces. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, dark circles like soft bruises under them. "Not tonight," she said softly, voice warm but strained. "I am too tired today. Let me rest just this once, okay?"
They all nodded immediately — no one complained.
So Ruby went to her room and curled up under her blanket.
She fell asleep with a tired smile on her lips, feeling just a little lighter than before.
Ruby woke up the next morning feeling like someone had poured heavy sand into her bones. Her eyes were dry, her shoulders ached, and for a moment she just sat there on the edge of the bed, rubbing her temples, trying to find the energy to move.
When she finally stood up, she made her way to the bathroom. She let the warm water run over her skin, hoping it would wash away some of that deep tiredness that clung to her chest. Just hold on, Ruby, she told herself as she pressed her forehead to the wall. Just get through today.
By the time she stepped out, she looked fresher but her eyes still held a quiet exhaustion. She went to the kitchen where Julian had already left out a warm breakfast for her and a cup of herbal tea that smelled faintly sweet. She sat at the table alone.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Adrian sat stiffly on the wooden chair, staring at nothing in particular. He had washed up early, changed into his robe, even combed his hair back neatly but now his hands just rested uselessly on his knees. He had spent so long being busy, moving, working, coming home late and exhausted... and now, with nothing to do, the empty space in his day felt like a hole too wide to fill.
Ruby passed by him on her way to the door. She paused, looking at his stiff shoulders and the way his eyes didn’t meet hers right away. She placed a warm hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly. "Adrian," she said gently, "don’t worry too much today. It’ll feel strange for a while, but you’re not alone, okay? I’ll figure something out soon."
Adrian only nodded, his jaw tight, but her words settled over him like a soft blanket.
When she reached her office that morning, she pushed open the door, let the sunlight spill across the stacks of fabric samples, boxes of new raincoats, and sketches pinned to the wall.
She walked into her office, nodding at her staff along the way as they greeted her with cheerful good mornings.
She sat down at her desk and took a quiet breath.
Then she pulled out her pencil, ruler, and a fresh roll of paper. The headache buzzed behind her eyes, but she ignored it. Slowly, she began sketching the blueprint for her new building, a bigger, better workspace for the company she was determined to grow.
To be continued... 🪄