Canary climbed the staircase slowly, each step heavier than the last. The mansion felt unusually quiet tonight, as if even the walls knew something had broken. When he reached Alexander's study room, he paused outside the door for a few seconds before gently pushing it open.
Lucy immediately looked up.
Her eyes were swollen from crying.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Canary looked around the study — the room that once belonged to the man who had held this family together.
Then his eyes returned to Lucy.
"You knew I would come?"
Lucy slowly nodded.
"I hoped you would."
Canary remained standing.
"I don't know what to call you right now."
Lucy's face fell slightly.
He looked away.
"I am angry."
His voice cracked.
"And confused."
Lucy wiped fresh tears from her cheeks.
"You have every right to be."
Canary finally walked further into the room.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Lucy looked down at Alexander's desk.
"Because every day I wanted one more day to be your mother."
He stayed quiet.
She continued softly.
"The first time you called me mother... I cried when you weren't looking."
Canary looked at her.
"When you got sick, I stayed awake all night."
"When you succeeded, I celebrated more than anyone."
"When you failed, it hurt me too."
Lucy's voice trembled.
"I know I am not the woman who gave birth to you."
She looked directly at him.
"But I have loved you every single day of your life."
Canary's eyes filled again.
He pulled a chair and sat opposite her.
Not close enough to hug her.
Not far enough to leave.
"I don't know what happens now."
Lucy nodded slowly.
"Neither do I."
The room fell silent again.
But for the first time that night, they were carrying the pain together instead of alone.
Lucy looked at Canary sitting across from her, seeing not the grown man everyone feared and respected, but the little boy she had raised.
Slowly, she reached across the desk and held his hand.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
"Canary," she said softly, "whatever happens after tonight… I am still willing to be your mother."
He looked up at her.
Lucy squeezed his hand gently.
"I have not stopped loving you as my own. Not for one day. Not for one moment."
Her voice broke.
"You are the son I raised. The son I worried about. The son I prayed for."
Canary's lips trembled.
"All these years…" he whispered.
Lucy nodded slowly.
"All these years."
The tears he had been holding back returned again.
Without saying another word, Canary stood up and moved toward her.
Then he hugged her.
Tightly.
Lucy immediately wrapped her arms around him, holding him the way she used to when he was younger, when hugs could fix almost everything.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
They simply cried.
Not because the pain had disappeared.
But because neither of them wanted to lose the other.
Eventually, they slowly pulled apart.
Lucy wiped his tears.
"You should rest."
Canary nodded quietly.
"You too."
They walked out of Alexander's study together before separating at the hallway.
Lucy watched him disappear toward his room.
Canary looked back one last time.
Then they both went to sleep carrying pain, answers, and uncertainty but no longer carrying them alone.
—-
Lisa walked into her room slowly after taking a shower. Her hair was still wet, droplets of water sliding down onto her shoulders as she tried drying it absentmindedly with a towel.
But her mind was somewhere else.
Lucy's words kept replaying.
Break up with Canary.
You don't deserve him.
Leave his life.
Lisa shut her eyes tightly.
Why did those words hurt this much?
Frustrated, she dropped the towel onto the chair nearby and sat on the edge of her bed. Her room was quiet, but her thoughts were loud.
She picked up her phone.
Her fingers hovered over Canary's contact.
Should she call him?
Text him?
Ask if he was okay?
Or would hearing from her only make things worse?
She opened their chat.
Then closed it.
Opened it again.
Then locked the phone completely.
Lisa sighed heavily and placed it beside her.
For the first time in a long while, she didn't know what the right thing was.
Slowly, she pulled the blankets over herself and lay down.
Her wet hair spread across the pillow as exhaustion finally caught up with her.
Still thinking about Canary.
Still hearing Lucy's words.
Eventually, sleep carried her away.
***
The following morning, the mansion felt unusually quiet.
Not the peaceful kind of quiet.
The uncomfortable kind.
The kind that made every sound seem louder.
Canary woke up after a restless night and slowly made his way downstairs. His mind still felt heavy, but routine was easier than thinking too much.
When he reached the dining area, Lucy and Ketra were already seated.
Lucy looked like she had barely slept.
Ketra offered him a small smile.
"Good morning," Canary said quietly.
"Good morning," they both replied.
He pulled out his chair and sat in his usual seat.
A maid quickly approached and served him breakfast before quietly stepping away.
For several minutes, only the sounds of cutlery against plates could be heard.
No one knew what to say.
Then footsteps approached.
Joel entered with his usual energy, looking around the table.
"Oh," he said cheerfully. "What a beautiful morning seeing our family together."
Nobody responded.
Joel sat down anyway.
A maid served him breakfast too.
He looked around again.
Still silence.
Finally, he laughed lightly.
"What is with the silence in this room? Is everything okay?"
Lucy forced herself to answer.
"Yes. Everything is fine."
Joel raised an eyebrow.
"It looks like something terrible happened."
He picked up his cup.
"Didn't you guys enjoy yesterday's birthday party?"
Canary looked up briefly.
"It was indeed fun."
Then, without touching much of his food, he slowly stood up.
The others looked at him.
"I will move out."
The words landed heavily.
Without waiting for anyone to respond, Canary turned and walked away.
Lucy watched him disappear upstairs before turning sharply toward Joel.
"Why do you keep disturbing him?"
Joel blinked innocently.
"Did I do anything wrong to my dear nephew?"
Lucy's voice became firmer.
"Sometimes you should try controlling your words."
She placed down her spoon.
"Otherwise, you keep creating problems for all of us."
Joel leaned back in his chair.
"I think the problem here is you."
Lucy stared at him.
Joel continued calmly.
"You should know it and try to fix it."
He pushed his chair back.
Then stood up.
Just like Canary had done moments earlier.
Soon, only Lucy and Ketra remained at the table.
And once again—
The mansion returned to silence.