As they talked for a while, the night grew deeper. The crackling fire cast long shadows across the room, its warmth a stark contrast to the biting cold outside.
Jennifer, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and bid the men goodnight.
She planted a soft kiss on Pierre's cheek before ascending the creaking wooden stairs to her room.
The atmosphere shifted subtly as Jennifer's footsteps faded. Pierre's jovial demeanor slipped, revealing a more somber countenance. He reached for a bottle of amber liquid on a nearby shelf, pouring generous measures into two glasses. Handing one to Jaegar, he settled back into his chair with a weary sigh.
"You know," Pierre began, his voice low and tinged with sadness, "a lot's changed since you've been gone. My parents... they've split up." He took a long swig from his glass, the firelight reflecting in his eyes. "After thirty years of marriage, Can you believe it?"
