C227 We Are Moving Out

The living room fell silent once again. Everyone remained seated, still absorbing everything that had been revealed. Although the tears had slowly stopped flowing, the pain remained visible on every face. It was a wound that had never truly healed. After several quiet minutes, Alicia gently wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks before taking a deep breath.

She looked at Peter with a faint smile. "Grandpa..." Peter looked up. "Yes, my child?" Alicia spoke softly, almost as though she was deliberately changing the subject. "Can we finally decide which room Michael's parents will stay in?" I blinked in surprise. "Wife..." "You know I haven't even discussed it with my parents yet." "I was still trying to think of a way to convince them." Peter suddenly burst into laughter. "Too late." "They've already agreed." "What?"

I stared at him in complete disbelief. "They... agreed?" "When?" "How?" I scratched the back of my head repeatedly. "I've been worrying about how to convince them all this time." "And you're telling me..." "...they accepted that easily?" Peter folded his arms proudly. "They didn't accept easily." "I simply explained why it was important." I looked at him suspiciously. "Grandpa..." "What exactly did you tell them?"

Peter smiled mysteriously. "A few words." "Nothing more." Mark laughed from the sofa. "If those are a few words,' then politicians would be unemployed." Everyone laughed. Even Georgia couldn't stop herself from smiling. Alicia giggled. "It's all thanks to Grandpa." "He really is a smooth talker." She turned toward Georgia with a mischievous smile. "Grandma..." "No wonder Grandpa managed to win you."

Georgia immediately laughed. "Oh?" "And what does that mean?" Alicia leaned closer. "I'm curious." "How many times did Grandpa propose before you finally agreed?" Peter coughed awkwardly. "Ahem..." "Why are we discussing ancient history?" "No one answered him. Instead... Everyone looked toward Georgia. Even I became curious. Georgia covered her mouth as she laughed. "Your grandfather..." "...was very handsome when he was young."

Peter proudly straightened his back. "You see?" "I've always said that." Mark rolled his eyes. "Dad..." "Please." Georgia smiled warmly before continuing. "But..." "It wasn't only because he was handsome." "It was the way he spoke." "The confidence he carried." "The way he looked at me." "I knew..." "...from the very beginning..." "...that he would become my husband." Alicia's eyes widened. "You mean..." "You didn't make him chase you?"

Georgia shook her head. "No." "I didn't believe in making life difficult for someone I already liked." Peter immediately pointed at her. "You hear that?" "That's wisdom." Alicia laughed. "So..." "There was no pretending?" "No hard to get?" "You simply agreed?" Georgia smiled proudly. "I did." "And I have never regretted that decision." Peter reached over and gently held her hand. "Neither have I."

For a brief moment... The living room became filled with warmth once again. The painful memories of earlier slowly gave way to soft laughter. Mark smiled as he watched his parents. "No wonder you've stayed together all these years." Peter laughed. "Marriage isn't about winning arguments." "It's about knowing which arguments aren't worth having." Georgia nodded. "And learning to apologize."

Peter quickly added, "Even when you're right." Everyone laughed loudly. Mark looked at his father in disbelief. "So you've finally admitted that Grandma is always right?" Peter sighed dramatically. "Son..." "I've survived military operations." "I've survived dangerous criminals." "But your mother..." He looked at Georgia before smiling helplessly. "...she is the strongest commander I've ever met."

The room erupted with laughter once again. Even Alicia laughed until tears formed in her eyes. For the first time since hearing the truth... She genuinely smiled. Seeing her smile... Made everyone feel relieved. Georgia eventually stood up. "Enough." "It's getting late." "My granddaughter should be resting." She gently walked over and hugged Alicia. "Remember what the doctor said." "You need proper sleep now."

Alicia nodded obediently. "I know, Grandma." Mark also stood up. "I should head to bed as well." "There will be plenty of work tomorrow." Peter slowly rose from his chair. "Oh..." "Before everyone leaves." He looked toward Alicia and me. "Regarding the rooms..." "You may choose whichever room you like." I looked at him. "Any room?" Peter nodded. "Yes." "Even the rooms that carry painful memories."

Georgia glanced at him quietly. Peter smiled. "We've spent years protecting those memories." "But memories don't disappear simply because someone lives in a room." He looked toward the hallway. "Instead..." "We'll create new memories." "Happy ones." "That is what your mother and Aunt Malice would've wanted." Alicia's eyes became moist again. She nodded slowly. "I understand." Everyone eventually wished one another good night before heading upstairs.

I naturally thought we were going back to our bedroom. However... As soon as we reached the second floor... Alicia stopped walking. Without saying anything... She quietly turned toward another corridor. Toward her mother's room. I immediately understood. She wasn't ready to let go. Not yet. I gently held her hand. "Wife." She turned to look at me. "I'll wait for you in our room." "Take all the time you need." She gave me a grateful smile. "Thank you."

After watching her disappear through the doorway... I quietly walked back to our bedroom alone. Meanwhile... Alicia slowly pushed open the familiar door. The room welcomed her with complete silence. Nothing had changed. The curtains. The bookshelves. The neatly arranged furniture. Even the faint fragrance lingering in the room somehow made it feel as though Gabrielle had only stepped outside for a moment.

Alicia slowly walked toward the bedside table. Her eyes landed on the framed photograph. She gently picked it up with trembling hands. For several long moments... She simply stared. The tears she had been trying so hard to suppress finally escaped once more. "Mother..." Her voice trembled. "I'm sorry..." "I'm so sorry..." "I don't even remember your face clearly." "I don't remember your voice." "I don't remember the stories you used to tell me."

Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "But now..." "I know why." "I know why everyone cried." "I know why Dad could never speak about you." She hugged the photograph tightly against her chest. "So many years..." "You never received justice." "And Aunt Malice..." "She only wanted to build her dream." "What did the two of you ever do to deserve such an ending?" Silence answered her. She slowly wiped away her tears.

Then looked toward the ceiling. "I promise you..." "No matter how long it takes..." "I'll uncover the truth." "I'll avenge both of you." "I won't allow your deaths to remain just another accident." She gently returned the photograph to its place. After that... She walked into the study connected to the bedroom. Almost immediately... Small fragments of memory flashed through her mind.

A tiny little girl running around the desk... Laughing. A beautiful woman chasing after her. "Don't disturb your father." "Come." "We'll play with him later." Alicia smiled sadly. "So those memories..." "...were real." She slowly ran her fingers across the desk. Across the books. Across the chair. Everything still felt strangely familiar. Almost thirty minutes later... She quietly left the room.

When she entered our bedroom... I had already finished taking a shower. I looked up and immediately noticed something different. The sadness was still there... But so was determination. I smiled gently. "So..." "Which room did you choose for my parents?" Instead of answering... She looked around our bedroom. Then she smiled mysteriously. "Husband..." I blinked. "Yes?" She pointed around the room. "Will this room be suitable for them?"

I looked around in confusion. "Our room?" She nodded. "What do you think?" I examined the room carefully before shrugging. "It looks perfect." "It's spacious." "It has everything they need." She smiled brightly. "Good." I frowned. "...Why are you asking?" She folded her arms behind her back. "Because..." "Tomorrow..." "We're moving out." I stared at her. "...What?" She simply giggled. "You'll understand tomorrow." Before I could ask another question... She picked up her towel and pajamas. "I'm going to freshen up."

She disappeared into the bathroom, leaving me standing there completely confused. I scratched the back of my head. "My wife..." "...has become even harder to understand." From inside the bathroom... I heard her soft laughter. And despite everything we had learned that night... Hearing her laugh again somehow made me believe... That brighter days were still waiting ahead.