It was around 11:55 when I finally returned home, hair messy, face flushed, mind overloaded with things I couldn't process.
The events at the office replayed relentlessly in my head, twisting my emotions into a storm I couldn't control.
Lavrick, completely unaware of the chaos inside me, bounced forward excitedly. "Mayhem! You're back just at the right time! Look what I made!" He held out a vanilla cake, decorated with painstaking care, clearly homemade, his clothes smeared with flour and frosting. "Happy birthday—"
But my mind snapped. In a motion I didn't even recognize as my own, I shoved the cake aside.
It flew across the room, crashing to the floor, splattering icing and crumbs everywhere. Lavrick froze, stunned, as if the world had stopped.
I couldn't think. I kicked over a nearby vase, shattering it into jagged pieces, and stepped deliberately on the broken glass. Blood ran over my foot, but I didn't care. My tears poured freely, blinding me, making every rational thought impossible.
Lavrick stood frozen for a moment, wide-eyed, the shock still registering — but worry quickly overpowered it. He stepped toward me, voice soft but urgent.
"Mayhem, hey, calm down, it's okay. You don't have to hold it in. It's just us, so you can let go, you can tell me what happened, or just breathe, please."
Before I could react, his arms were around me, pulling me into his warmth.
The instant I felt him, the dam inside me shattered. Every image, every word from my so-called father earlier came flooding back. That man — that thing — showing up at my office, spitting venom before the police dragged him away. But before they did, he made sure to plant the kind of poison in my mind that doesn't wash out.
Lavrick didn't say a word as he guided me to the couch, his hands steady even while mine trembled. He disappeared for only a moment, returning with the first aid kit, kneeling in front of me like I was something fragile.
Without asking, without lecturing, he began tending to my bleeding foot. His touch was gentle, but it only made my tears fall harder.
"I was wrong," My voice cracked. "He's he's a disgusting, vile excuse for a human. My mom all these years I thought she died believing someone loved her. I thought she was happy when she left this world. But no— my breath hitched, my throat tightening. At her last moments, she called him. And he didn't just ignore her — he rejected her. Over and over. And when he finally picked up, do you know what he said? He told her to never call him again. That he already had someone else. That he already had a child with her."
The words twisted in my chest like knives. "How could someone be so cruel? What must my mom have felt in that moment, knowing the man she loved wanted her gone? That, that pain, it killed her. And I never even knew. I thought she left this world in peace, even if she left me behind, I was glad she was happy. But I was wrong. I was so damn wrong."
My voice broke entirely, sobs tearing through me until it felt like my heart itself was bleeding.
Lavrick's hands paused on the bandage. His eyes were steady on mine, no judgment, no impatience — only a quiet, burning promise that I wasn't going to face this alone.
I bit my lips, heart clenching as the thoughts of my mother's suffering hit me like a blade. How much she must have cried, aching for me to be by her side while I was out, working to pay for my studies, fighting for every scrap to survive. All these years — over ten — I had comforted myself with the lie that she had died believing she was loved. But now, I knew it had all been a cruel illusion.
"That stupid women," I spat the words, voice raw, trembling. "She was kind as hell, treating everyone with care even when they treated her like dirt. And she loved him like he was the world, wow. My hands gripped the edge of the couch. I used to blame her sometimes, for dying "happily," leaving me alone with nothing and... No one..."
Tears streamed freely down my face. "Do you know how many nights I went hungry, not knowing where to go, what to do? How many times I begged my so-called family to take me in, only to have every door slammed in my face? And that money, the money that bastard threw at me? Even if I didn't want it, I had no choice but to take it and forge myself into what I am now, No one, no one knows what I've been through. No one cared."
The pain in my feet, the cuts and scratches from earlier — it meant nothing compared to the ache inside me.
Lavrick stayed silent after carefully treating my feet, his eyes clouded with sadness—broken, not for himself, but for me.
"The hell are you crying for?" I asked, sniffling, still bitter and frustrated.
"How can I not, when you're in this much pain?" His voice cracked as tears dripped onto my feet. He leaned down, pressing a soft, desperate kiss to my leg, then gently took my hands in his, resting his forehead against my palms.
"I know, I know what it's like, how lonely, how alone you were," he whispered, voice shaking. "But I hate myself for not being there for you when you needed someone, it hurts me seeing you like this. Please, don't cry. Don't hurt yourself more. I, I'm sure your mother is in a better place. I'm sure she's happy seeing that you didn't give up, that you stood on your own, strong and fearless. But if you break down like this, it'll hurt her too, and me."
His lips trembled against my palms, his tears hot, soaking my skin as he cried like a baby, raw and unrestrained. The weight of his worry, his obsession, and his love pressed down on me, a fierce warmth I couldn't pull away from—even if I wanted to. I shut my eyes, inhaling shakily, glancing at the ruined cake and shattered vase. The kitchen was still adorned with balloons—just enough to feel the warmth he'd tried to create.
My heart ached. It finally hit me, it was my birthday. He had planned all of this for me, and I had ruined it. Yet, all he cared about was my injury, my tears, my pain.
Lavrick looked up at me, his eyes bright yet soft, voice thick with emotion. "I know I couldn't be with you before, but now I'm here. I can be with you forever, as long as you'll let me. I don't even need to be your lover—just being your servant would make me happy as long as I can take care of you. You've worked so hard, all by yourself now, please, give me the rest of your life to take care of you. Let me love you with my entire soul, my very existence."
He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the tears streaking my face, before wrapping me in a hug that felt like it could swallow all my pain.
I didn't reply, staring blankly at the ceiling, mind racing. Mom is this your gift? Did you, send this man to me on purpose? Why is he like this? Why does he want me so badly? Why does it feel like his very soul, his breath, exists only for me? And how, how can I ever say no when I'm already addicted to this warmth, this care, this devotion I've never known?
I sniffled, letting the emotions overwhelm me, before finally hugging him back.
I felt myself losing control, melting into his arms, letting his presence soothe the ache I'd carried for years. After a long silence of comfort, I finally tried to pull myself together.
"Okay, enough crying. You're making me strange with you as well," I said gently, nudging him away. He nodded, hiding a smile, as if the mere fact that I'd returned to my cold, confident aura made him the happiest man alive.
"The cake, looks nice," I said, crouching down, tasting the remains with a finger.
"But, tastes good, though a little salty."
Lavrick's eyes went wide. "No! Don't eat it like that! Forget it, I'll make you a new, better one!"
"No need. I like it," I murmured, tasting it again, feeling the emotion welling up inside me.
"I'm sorry," I muttered, guilt prickling at me for ruining his effort. He shook his head quickly. "No, it really isn't anything. I didn't mind. I didn't even realize it was ruined—I was more scared and hurt seeing you like that, and that you even hurt yourself." His glance flicked to my bandaged feet.
"You're really an idiot," I said, flicking his forehead. He quickly took my palm in his, pressing it to his lips. "I know. I'm an idiot, who only wants to live for you," he muttered.
I gulped, the emotion clawing at me again. Why are you like this? What is it about me that you're this crazy for? I asked softly.
"Everything," he replied without hesitation. "You don't know just how beautiful and amazing you are." He bent down, pressing a gentle kiss to my eyes, and I chuckled despite myself.
"Okay, stop being cheesy. And tell me—what did you cook? I'm hungry," I said, undoing a few buttons of my shirt and loosening my tie.
"Yes, I did," he said, grinning like a complete fool. "You can go take a warm shower. I'll clean this up and serve you the food I made—all your favorites. I promise, it'll taste even better than any chef's." He bent down, ready to start tidying, his excitement infectious.
But I stopped him with a raised hand.
"Do it later and join me," I said, already striding ahead.
Lavrick blinked, face flushing crimson. "J-join what?" he stammered, clearly trying to process.
"Shower," I replied casually, not needing to look back to see his reaction. That was all it took. Like a loyal, excited dog, he bounded after me, practically bouncing with anticipation.
There was no way he was going to let this opportunity slip.
The shower took longer than I expected—not because anything happened in the usual way, but because of him. His hands roamed over me with deliberate gentleness, caressing every curve and plane of my body, leaving me flushed and breathless. His lips kissed every inch of exposed skin, soft, lingering, reverent—and I didn't stop him. I didn't need to.
Even in the warmth of the water, the steam rising around us, there was something intoxicating about the way he adored me, as if every touch, every kiss, was a declaration of how much I mattered to him. I simply let myself melt into it, letting his devotion wash over me.
Later, after the bath, he happily served the dishes he had cooked for me, his tail wagging like it had a mind of its own. He watched me intently as I tasted the first bite.
"Tastes good," I muttered, patting his hair. "Good boy."
"Hehe, I've planned to cook more tomorrow. I'll make new dishes every day," he said, eyes sparkling with pure joy.
I smiled, leaning forward to give him a soft peck on his lips before returning to my meal, keeping my composure as best I could. He just stood there, cheeks red, lips swollen like a child caught in a happy dream, and I couldn't help but grin. I guess Mother really did outdo herself by sending me this ridiculous, lovable puppy.
"I love you, too," I whispered, almost to myself.
Silence filled the room.
Lavrick froze, eyes wide, chest heaving, as if he hadn't breathed in a century. "Huh, what did you say?"
I shrugged nonchalantly, still eating. "I meant I'd love it if you stayed here forever and cooked me good food. If you do, then I'll allow you to stay beside me forever." Lavrick barely contained his joy, punching the table hardly before biting his lips to keep from shouting. I rolled my eyes, amused.
"Weird as ever," I muttered, smiling, and continued eating.
Looking at him, so utterly devoted and happy, I realized this was the reward of a lifetime of hard work—a lavish, beautiful kind of love I hadn't known I deserved.
Not only had I found someone who worshiped and adored me like no other, he was a loser but guess, I'm more of a Big loser as I also found myself utterly, helplessly in love with him in return.
I can only imagine how long this happiness will last. And I want every single day, every single moment, to be filled with this comfort, this joy, with this idiot Lavrick by my side for the rest of my life.
The warmth of the room, the soft clatter of dishes, and the sight of him grinning like a fool beside me—it was perfect. And for the first time in my life, I knew I belonged...