Alaric clenched his jaw as he stubbed out his cigarette. He then mirrored Emerald's stance, placing his hands on the table and leaning in closer.

"You seem quite concerned about my son. So why not consider my proposal? James likes you. If you become his mother, he'd be happy. It’s a win-win for all of us," he said as if it were the most natural suggestion.

They stared at each other in silence. Emerald was at a loss for words, her mind momentarily blank. Their gaze only broke when a sudden crash echoed through the house, the sound of porcelain shattering.

"James!"

Worried about James's fragile mental state, even with...