Villain Ch 2031. Perfect Family Portrait [Part 1]
He stepped forward. Took the plate. The crust flaked under his fork like it remembered how to be perfect. The filling was rich, savory, and seasoned exactly the way he remembered it when he was small and still believed families always had dinner together.
He took a bite.
It burned his tongue a little.
Good.
It meant it was real.
Carla poured a glass of water and placed it in front of him without a word.
He chewed, staring at the fork in his hand, thinking of Allen's name printed in gold on a wedding invitation he never got. Thinking of what it meant to be the one who showed up anyway.
The silence was warm this time. Not comfortable, but not sharp.
He didn't look up when he spoke again.
"I want to stand there and let him see me. Without pretending he never existed," he said. "It's his big day after all…"
Carla didn't reply. Not with words.
But she set a second plate on the table. And another fork.
