Unlike the heavy atmosphere in the Valos Mansion, the atmosphere in the Livares family home was very bright and pleasant.
Lively chattering and laughter could be heard in the dining room where Evan was having dinner with his mother and younger sister. The father spent most of his time in the army; so he rarely got to eat with his family or came home. Despite this, the Livares were always a happy family.
"What?! Did your classmates really ask you for your brother's phone number?" Sylvia Livares, the mother of the Livares family asked her daughter with a peal of laughter.
"Yes, Mom. I'm sincere, and it's not only one. Many of the girls from my school asked me," Emily Livares replied, sounding a bit annoyed. "Ah! Having a super handsome brother is not easy! I'm already tired of their endless buggings." She looked at her brother with a grumpy face.
Evan simply patted his younger sister on the head. "You must have suffered so much. Even I wish to be a little less handsome than now." He deliberately shook his head and let out a sigh, much to the frustration of Emily.
"Mom! There he goes again! Let us not compliment his looks anymore. Hmph!" She crossed her arms and turned her head away from her brother.
Evan laughed at his sister's childishness. He always loved to tease her whenever she brought up his looks and... he always succeeded!
"Why? It's not my fault that I was born this handsome." A menacing smile plastered his handsome face and his gaze was on Emily all the while.
Though Emily was already 12 years old and currently attending middle school; she always acted like a little kid. Maybe he spoiled her too much!
"Why are you this handsome while I only got an average look? My friends always said that we don't look like real siblings at all!" Emily complained.
Though she liked her brother more than anyone else in this world, she was tired of people comparing their looks! While people compliment her brother's looks all the time; they said that she only had an average face!
Evan's smile faded a bit, but he instantly smiled again the next second. "You're more beautiful than me. In my eyes, you're the most beautiful girl in this world," he calmly said to his sister. Then he placed some of her favorite foods on her plates and caressed her hair with a bright smile on his face.
Hearing her brother's words, Emily Livares cheered up again and she started to eat her food happily.
Sylvia Livares placed some of Evan's favorites on his plate. "You should enjoy your meal too," she said with a loving smile.
"Thanks, Mom. You should eat too," Evan replied, exchanging his mother's smile. Then the siblings continued to chatter again.
The mother quietly stared at the two loving siblings. Though she felt sorry for Evan, she was grateful to him for always putting up with Emily's childishness.
She saw Emily asking her brother to do all sorts of things for her. 'I want water.' 'I want more of this.' 'I want more soup.' The latter happily obliged with all her requests. This made Mrs. Livares sigh.
When will her daughter ever grow up and stop bugging her brother?
While Mrs. Livares was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly heard her husband's voice that snapped her out of her stupor.
"You're already having dinner? It seems like I'm a bit late."
The three Livares who were in the dining room darted their eyes to the door where the father was standing with a little smile. As always, he was wearing his military uniform.
At the age of 42, Major General Rylan Livares was the youngest Major General in the Erasian Army. Due to his countless achievements, he was considered as the legend of the Erasian Army and many soldiers looked up to him. He was a man of principles who was always a reliable head of the family.
"I don't know that you're coming home today," Mrs. Sylvia Livares said as she approached her husband. Then her calm gaze was shifted to the man who was standing behind her husband. The man was Sergeant Adriel whose job was to assist the Major General.
"Why don't you come and join us at dinner?" Mrs. Livares asked the Sergeant with a friendly smile on her face.
"I think it would be rude of me to interrupt your family time, Madam," the Sergeant respectfully replied and with a little smile, he added, "I should leave before I take up more of your time."
"Great job today," Major General Rylan promptly said and the Sergeant nodded.
"My pleasure, sir." With that, the Sergeant saluted the Major General and left the Livares family house right away.
Now that he was with just his family members, all the stern aura of the strict Major General was gone and he promptly looked at his wife with a loving smile. "It seems like you're not that happy to see me, my dear," he commented.
"I don't think it would be hard for you to tell me that you will be coming home. Will a single phone call kill you, Mr. Busy?" Mrs. Livares's tone was a bit sarcastic but her husband still flashed an appeasing smile.
"I just think that it will be great to surprise you." He shifted his gaze to his two children who were staring at them with an amusing smile on their faces. "Look, the kids are also happy."
Without even looking at her son and daughter, Mrs. Livares let out a sigh. "Just come and join us. It's getting late." She turned her back at her husband and set up a plate for him. Then she sat down and continued with her dinner.
Flashing another smile, Mr. Livares approached the table and sat on the chair beside his wife. Then he looked at his two children who were suppressing hard their laughter. Maybe they were amused by the complicated situation their father was in. Nevertheless, he simply smiled at them and started eating the dishes.
* * *
It was around 9 in the night and Evan was in his room with his father. Though the Major General was rarely home due to the nature of his work, he always tried to spend his time talking a lot with his children whenever he had the chance to come home.
"Are you still in the Cadet Force?"
Evan nodded at his father's question. "I already invest two years. I should make sure to complete and make the most out of it."
Major General Rylan slowly nodded several times. "But Evan, why do you want to join the army? Is it because of me?" He briefly paused and continued, "With your grades, you will be able to do even better."