Chapter 04
1091 Words
In the next instant, Ethan heard the sound of footsteps approaching the room, until they abruptly stopped by the door. It was Alice, his niece, who, rubbing her eyes with her hand, clearly had just woken up.
"Good morning, Dad, Uncle Ethan," greeted the young girl as she approached.
Alice glanced at her uncle and raised her arms, expressing the desire for a hug. Ethan then crouched down, embraced the child in his arms, and stood up again.
"Good morning, princess. Have you enjoyed your morning meal yet?"
"No," replied the young girl, yawning. "I just woke up."
"In that case, it would be appropriate for us to proceed with oral hygiene," Ethan said, giving a slight smile as he touched the tip of his nose with his index finger.
After leaving the room, Nathan was left alone with his game, while the other two individuals entered the bathroom adjacent to the young girl's room. Ethan gently placed Alice on the floor, but a dilemma presented itself: the sink was positioned at a height that was inaccessible for her. Aware of this difficulty, Ethan briefly left the room, returning shortly after with a wooden stool in his hands.
With precision, he placed the stool on the floor, providing Alice with the opportunity to reach the elegant marble sink. After carefully completing her oral hygiene routine, Ethan lifted Alice into his arms and headed to the dining room. Upon entering the room, he found his father peacefully enjoying his morning coffee. With kindness, Ethan placed his niece on the floor, and she, full of enthusiasm, ran towards her grandfather to embrace him warmly.
"Good morning, dear grandfather," greeted the young girl, embracing Rodrigo affectionately.
"Good morning, Alice," Rodrigo replied, displaying a subtle smile and warmly embracing his granddaughter.
Ethan discreetly approached the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Serenely, he began the act of serving himself, while Alice, circling the table, pulled out the chair next to her uncle and sat down, promptly engaging in the task of serving herself as well.
"Good morning, my son... Did you have any contact with your brother?"
"Yes, I had contact with him. He's in my room, engrossed in a gaming session."
"I understand."
After this brief verbal exchange, silence returned to dominate the atmosphere between the two. It was a challenge for Rodrigo to try to establish a conversation with his younger son, as they didn't have such a close relationship. However, a few minutes later, he chose to initiate an interaction.
"Did you rest well during the night?" Rodrigo asked with a serious expression, seeking information about the interlocutor's rest.
Ethan was surprised by his father's initiative to start a conversation, immediately understanding the intentions behind this gesture. His father presumed that Ethan was upset. Although Ethan considered discussing the matter, he chose to act naturally, observing to what extent the conversation would unfold.
"Yes, I rested well during the night. And how was your sleep?" Ethan responded.
"My rest was reasonable," Rodrigo replied.
"Could you provide me with the reasons?"
"Considering my recent promotion and the move to Erathia, I am uncertain if accepting this was the right choice."
"I understand... But please understand, father, my behavior yesterday was motivated by the fact that I am often the last one to be informed about things. However, that doesn't imply that I am angry," the young man explained.
"Are you sure about that?" Rodrigo asked.
"Certainly, why would I be upset if this achievement is the result of your tireless efforts?"
"You demonstrate a high level of understanding about things."
"Perhaps I inherited this characteristic from our mother. By the way, could you inform me of her whereabouts?"
At that moment, their interaction was interrupted by Nathan, who entered the dining room singing the song "Courtesy Call." Upon realizing his behavior, he promptly apologized.
"I apologize if I interrupted something," Nathan said.
"No, you didn't interrupt anything," both Ethan and Rodrigo responded simultaneously.
Nathan was aware that he had interrupted something, however, understanding the importance of the moment as the first conversation between father and son, or at least as it should be, he chose not to insist. With serenity, he pulled out a chair, took a seat, and began to serve himself.
"Father, could you inform me about my wife's whereabouts?" Nathan asked.
"She went out to take care of Alice's school transfer," Rodrigo replied.
"And what about Mom?" Ethan asked.
"She went to pick up your transfer, and she's also planning to stop by the hospital to get the transfer letter," Rodrigo explained.
"I see... Regarding that, Ethan, could you tell us who Fernanda is?" Nathan questioned.
"I said you had permission to play, not that you were authorized to invade my privacy and access my messages," Ethan replied.
"I understand. However, I would like to know who she is. Is she your girlfriend?" Nathan persisted.
"She is someone whose details are not relevant to you," Ethan replied.
"Please, when do you intend to officially introduce your girlfriend to the family? Our mother would be very happy to meet her, and it would be a pleasant opportunity for all of us as well," Nathan insisted.
After taking a sip of juice, Ethan gently placed the glass back on the table, directing his gaze towards his brother. Then, a discreet smile appeared on his lips, leaving Nathan slightly intrigued as to the reason behind this gesture.
"It is evident that our perspectives remain irreconcilable. Because every time I try to be courteous, you always deliberately seek something to provoke my irritation," Ethan commented.
Ethan firmly held the glass, revealing a visible state of irritation. In the face of his son's reaction, Rodrigo sighed, aware that the situation could quickly escalate into a physical conflict. However, his gaze turned to his granddaughter, who was also attentively following the heated discussion.
"I would like to know more about her," Nathan inquired.
"As I mentioned before, that is not relevant to you... I'm sorry, Nathan, but why is it so difficult for you to understand?" Ethan replied.
"Ethan," Rodrigo addressed his younger son.
"What is the reason for the interruption, father?" Ethan asked, his voice slightly altered.
Rodrigo remained silent, directing his gaze to the side. Perceiving his father's indication without fully understanding its meaning, Ethan followed the gaze and turned his attention to Alice, whose fixed gaze was directed at both of them during the argument.
"Could you clarify the reason behind this conflict?" Alice asked, keeping her gaze fixed on Ethan.
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