As Alaric stepped through the grand entrance of his mansion, the familiar sight of his family's new home greeted him. The marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of chandelier lights, and the air carried a comforting warmth. His mother, Maria, stood waiting in the hallway with a gentle smile.
"Welcome home, Alaric," Maria said warmly. Her voice, filled with affection, washed over him like a soothing balm after a long day.
Before he could respond, the sound of small, rapid footsteps echoed through the hall. Lucy appeared around the corner, her face lighting up with pure joy. "Big brother!" she squealed as she sprinted toward him.
Alaric couldn't help but smile as he knelt down, catching his little sister in a tight hug. "Hey, Lucy. How was your day?"
"It was fun! I drew a picture of all of us, even Mister Fluffy," she said proudly, holding up a crayon drawing that included their family and a small, round cat that resembled their pet.
