Chapter 84: Something sparked, something he never expected

A warm light entered the dark living room. He raised his eyes to meet golden orbs.

"Phoenix, could you give me a hug, please?" Phoenix stepped closer and knelt down, wrapping his arms around his waist. Zane returned the gesture as his hands wound around Phoenix's back, tightening the hug without any hesitation. They stayed like that for several minutes, just hugging, and Zane closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the familiar scent of bergamot and lemon that was so uniquely Phoenix.

It was alright. It was all alright. Life was like this - you gain some and you lose some. His mom might be like that, but he still had his father, and he had Phoenix.

The hands around him were firm beyond comparison. It was as if they were enclosed in a very private and warm world, isolating them from everything else, as if they were the only ones left for each other.