CHAPTER 41 – A FRAGILE MORNING OF PEACE
The morning sun spilled through the tall windows, bathing the dining room in golden warmth. For the first time in what felt like forever, the air wasn't thick with fear or urgency — just the comforting aroma of fresh bread, spiced tea, and the faint laughter drifting down the stairs.
Adrian leaned casually against the doorway, watching as little Andre skipped into the room, his hair still messy from sleep but his eyes bright with curiosity. The boy froze when he noticed the tall stranger, his tiny frame straightening with unexpected confidence. "You're new," Andre said, tilting his head, his voice steady but sharp with observation. "You walk like a soldier. Are you here to protect us, or to test us?"
Adrian blinked, then let out a low chuckle, caught off guard. "Well, aren't you a sharp one." He crouched so his eyes were level with the boy's. "Name's Adrian. Old friend of your father's. And what about you, little hawk? What do they call you?" "Andre Xavier," the boy replied without hesitation, puffing his chest proudly. "And I'm not little. I'm the man of this house when Papa is weak. I protect Mama and Grandma. One day, I'll protect him too."
For a moment, Adrian was silent, studying the boy's earnest expression. Then a rare smile softened the scar on his jaw. "Bold words for someone barely taller than the table. But… I believe you."
Just then, Xavier entered, supported by Luna, his face weary but carrying a proud father's smile. "Adrian, meet my son," he said, his voice rich with quiet pride. Adrian rose and gave Xavier a knowing glance. "He's got your fire. And your stubbornness."
The family soon gathered around the long dining table — Luna fussing with plates, Mrs. Maria whispering a soft prayer over the bread, Dami and Desmond exchanging quiet strategy notes at the far end. For a moment, the world outside — Cassandra, NeuroRegen, the looming war — felt distant, like a bad dream held at bay.
And as laughter sparked between bites of food, Xavier thought to himself that this — this fragile peace — was worth every battle still to come.
Andre perched himself on the edge of the chair beside Dami, chattering away with the confidence of someone far older than his years. "Uncle Dami, did you know ants can carry fifty times their own weight? That means if you were an ant, you could lift Papa's car with one hand!" Dami raised a brow and leaned in theatrically. "Is that so? Well, if I were an ant, I'd probably use my strength to steal cookies from the kitchen instead." Andre giggled, covering his mouth with his tiny hands. "Grandma would chase you with her broom!" Mrs. Maria, already sipping her tea, chuckled. "Oh, I wouldn't chase him. I'd let him take the cookies — and then pray for his teeth when they all fall out." The room erupted in laughter. Even Adrian, normally reserved and sharp-eyed, shook his head in amusement. He reached over and ruffled Andre's hair. "You're too clever for your age, boy. Reminds me of your father when he was little. Always asking questions, always making trouble."
"I don't make trouble," Andre protested, puffing up again. "I solve them!" That drew another round of chuckles.
It was then that Xavier and Luna entered, hand in hand. The sight of them together, though Xavier's steps were slow and cautious, brought a hush of warmth over the table. Mrs. Maria's gaze lingered on her son, her eyes soft with both pride and sorrow. Then, with a playful sparkle, she turned her attention to the two bachelors at the table. "You know," she said, setting her teacup down deliberately, "it's time some of you stopped hiding behind excuses and found families of your own." Dami almost choked on his bread, while Adrian raised both brows.
"Mother—" Xavier began, but she silenced him with a look. "Yes, you, Adrian," Mrs. Maria continued, ignoring their protests. "And you, Dami. Look at this house — laughter, warmth, the strength of family. Don't tell me you don't feel it too. A man isn't made whole by battles alone. He needs someone to come home to."
For a moment, silence fell. Then Adrian smirked, standing and grabbing his coat. "I think I'd rather face Cassandra's entire army than another one of your matchmaking speeches." Dami laughed and quickly followed him toward the door. "Same here, Mama Maria. You'll have us both married off to strangers before breakfast is done."
The two men slipped out into the hallway, their laughter echoing back into the dining room. Andre leaned toward his grandmother with a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't worry, Grandma. I'll help you. We'll find them wives."
Mrs. Maria chuckled, pulling the boy into her lap and kissing his forehead. "Ah, my little partner in crime." Xavier and Luna exchanged a glance, both smiling softly at the fleeting, fragile joy in the air.
The echoes of laughter still lingered in the air long after Adrian and Dami slipped out. But as the table was cleared and the house quieted, the shift was almost tangible — warmth gave way to the weight of what lay ahead.
Mid-day at Xaviers mansion
In the study, a large map sprawled across the oak table, its surface already dotted with markers from Desmond's earlier planning. Adrian stood over it, sleeves rolled up, his eyes sharp and calculating. Dami and Desmond flanked him, curious but skeptical.
Without a word, Adrian began moving the pieces. He shifted defensive markers, redrew boundaries, and carved new strike points that none of them had considered before. His hands moved with the precision of a man who had lived a hundred battles — and won most of them. "This…" Dami muttered, leaning closer, "this changes everything."
Desmond's jaw tightened as he studied the revised formation. "You're not just building a defense," he said slowly. "You're setting a trap." Adrian gave a faint, wolfish smile. "Cassandra thinks she knows the battlefield. She doesn't. She expects you to play her game — waiting, defending, reacting. But if we turn the field into ours… she'll never see the fall coming." Dami exhaled a low whistle, shaking his head. "Genius." For a moment, even Desmond, the ever-stoic strategist, allowed himself a grin. "I'll admit it, Adrian. You just gave us a fighting chance."
Adrian planted both hands firmly on the table, his gaze sweeping over the map. "No. I gave us more than that." His voice hardened. "I gave us the path to victory." And with those words, the fragile peace of the morning was swallowed by the fire of war.