That evening, Vector arrived home with a massive bouquet of flowers in his hands, the kind that looked less like an apology and more like a grand declaration. He rang the bell.
The door swung open.
Kael stood there… and froze.
His eyes dropped to the oversized bouquet. Then slowly lifted to his father's face. A smirk spread across his lips.
"What's up, Dad?" he drawled. "What did you do this time?"
Vector stepped inside smoothly, brushing past him. "Don't you think you're asking too many questions for a son?" he replied coolly.
Kael chuckled, folding his arms. "Hmm. Fair point. But it should be normal now. I've grown up."
He puffed his chest slightly, trying to look intimidating.
Vector looked him up and down dramatically. "Oh, really? Since when? Because I still see the tiny boy who used to jump around for a new video game."
Kael groaned. "Okay, okay… speaking of which, Dad, there's a new launch in the market—"
"You'll get it tomorrow," Vector interrupted casually, loosening his tie as he walked toward the couch. "But…" He glanced at Kael with a knowing look. "I want some privacy with my girl tonight."
Kael smiled. "Deal. I was about to head out anyway. Movie night with friends."
He grabbed his keys, then paused, turning back with a teasing grin. "Enjoy your time with your girl, Dad."
Vector chuckled and suddenly pulled Kael into a tight embrace before the boy could slip away.
"Dad—" Kael protested, laughing as he tried to wriggle free.
"Take care. Be careful. And don't be reckless," Vector said, pressing a firm kiss to his son's head.
Kael's grin softened. "I will, Dad. Don't worry."
Vector leaned back slightly, studying him. "Want money?"
Kael smirked. "Nope. I've got Mom's card."
Vector raised a brow. "Did you ask her?"
"Of course, Dad. I'm a good boy. I don't steal things," Kael replied in an exaggeratedly innocent tone.
Vector shook his head, amused. "Alright then. Enjoy your movie night." He kissed his forehead once more.
Kael smiled… then, before moving, his expression shifted into something dangerously playful.
"Mom!" he suddenly yelled toward the hallway. "Your boyfriend is here with a huge flower bouquet!"
Vector's eyes widened. "You little—"
Before he could grab him, Kael dodged backward, laughing.
Liana stepped out, already smiling at the tone of her son's voice.
"There she is," Kael said dramatically, gesturing toward Vector like a game show host.
"What did you just say, brat? Teasing your parents already?" Liana shot back, trying to look stern but failing as her lips curved.
"Alright, alright, I'm getting late! I gotta go." Kael laughed, moving toward her. He hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek. "Bye, Mom."
"Take care," she said softly.
He nodded, then glanced at Vector. "Bye, Dad."
Vector gave him a small smile, shaking his head. The door closed behind Kael, his laughter echoing faintly down the hallway.
As the door clicked shut behind Kael, Vector turned slowly toward Liana.
His expression softened instantly… but there was something deeper in his eyes now. A warmth. A quiet hunger that had nothing to do with dinner.
Liana noticed the shift immediately. She raised one eyebrow as he approached her. "What's up, Mr. Husband?"
Vector didn't answer with words at first. He stepped closer, hands settling firmly on her hips, pulling her gently against him.
"It's been too long," he murmured. "I haven't had proper romantic time with you, honey."
She smiled knowingly. "So you came home early?"
He leaned in, brushing his nose against her cheek, inhaling softly as if grounding himself in her presence. "Hmm," he hummed against her skin.
Her arms wrapped around him instinctively.
His lips traced along her cheek, then down her jaw, slow and warm, unhurried. Liana tilted her head slightly, giving him easier access, a soft sigh escaping her as his affection deepened. His hands slid upward from her hips, fingers pressing gently into her curves, familiar and reverent all at once.
He pulled back just enough to look at her. Those green eyes of hers always did something to him.
"I love you," he whispered.
She smiled, brushing her thumb along his collarbone. "I love you too."
He stayed there for a moment, just looking at her, as if memorizing her face all over again. She laughed softly at the intensity.
"Missed me that much?" she teased.
He leaned closer, forehead almost touching hers. "Feels like a decade… ever since last time I loved you."
Her smile deepened. "Then love me again," she whispered.
His gaze darkened slightly, but it was tender. Certain. "I will," he murmured. "Every inch of you. Until you forget everything except us."
Her cheeks warmed at his tone, but she didn't pull away.
Instead, he captured her lips fully this time. Slow, Deep, and deliberate. As though he wanted to erase the entire world and keep only her taste, her breath, her heartbeat.
She melted into him without hesitation, fingers curling into his shirt, letting herself drown in the intimacy they had built over years, not just nights.
The house grew quieter as evening slipped into night.
Behind closed doors, the middle-aged couple rediscovered each other once more, with familiarity, laughter between kisses, whispered promises.
**************************
The football match hummed in the background, commentators shouting dramatically as if the fate of the universe depended on a goal.
On the carpet, Charles was fully invested in a much more serious competition, building block towers with Zayn, who giggled every time they collapsed. Sara sat nearby with her laptop, typing away, occasionally glancing up with a small smile.
And on the couch…
Kairo lay stretched out like a neglected human being.
He yawned loudly.
No reaction.
Zayn was too busy laughing with Charles. Sara was too focused on her screen.
Kairo narrowed his eyes.
He cleared his throat once. Twice.
Still nothing.
Finally, he sat up slightly and announced in a dramatically serious tone, "Dad… you can go back to your house now. The media isn't bothering you anymore."
Sara and Charles both looked up at him.
Kairo kept his face perfectly straight, as if he had just delivered breaking news.
"What are you saying, Kairo?" Sara hissed quietly.
"I'm saying facts," he replied, flopping back lazily against the couch. "Everything is fine now. So he can go back to his house."
Sara's nose flared. Without warning, she grabbed a cushion and hurled it at him.
Kairo caught it mid-air with exaggerated offense. "Why are you throwing things at me? Are you trying to kill me?" He pressed the cushion dramatically to his chest. "Seems like you don't love me anymore."
Charles chuckled at his son's theatrics.
Kairo shot him a look, pretending to be wounded. "What?"
"If you want to spend time with your son," Charles said, still chuckling, "just say it clearly. Don't try this nonsense,"
Kairo glared at him. "When you clearly know what I want, then why didn't you let me hold him?"
On the carpet, Zayn chose that exact moment to look up at Kairo… blink once… and then went back to playing.
To be continued....