Lugubrious

Mr. Raynott slumps in his worn leather office chair, his usually confident posture replaced by a defeated slouch. While the world outside carries on with its usual hustle and bustle, today feels different for him.This is the first time in his life that he's truly felt adrift. Staring at the pile of cash on his desk, it seems devoid of any meaning, resembling nothing more than a collection of worthless paper.For the very first time, he found himself at a loss for solutions. The news of his son being in jail had spread like wildfire across the internet and news channels.The company's stock shares were plummeting, and a large number of the staff had submitted their resignations via email. His secretary regarded him with eyes full of sympathy."Sir, Raydens didn't accept the money." The secretary informed her, and she turned her heels to walk away."What do they need instead?"The secretary looks back. "They said they respected Dean's wish.""Wasn't that kid present there?"The secretary shook her head. "He was not present." She tore a piece of paper from her notepad. "This is his brother, Ethan's number."Mr. Raynott raised his eyebrows and took the paper. "What happened to his number?""I didn't ask about it."Mr. Raynott nodded his head and gestured for the secretary to leave.Once she left, he stood up from his chair. "What should I do now?"He remembers Calder's words:

Only Dean can save your son. Request that he take the complaint back.

He glanced at the blank check and chuckled to himself. "This money is not able to buy my reputation." He tore it. "I am not able to buy my son's freedom."Life is inherently uncertain and full of unexpected twists and turns. Even the most seemingly secure individuals can face sudden and dramatic falls from grace due to a single misstep. This misstep could manifest as acts of selfishness, greed, envy, or even simply a lapse in judgment.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Calder took a bite of the bread, his thoughtful expression revealing his preoccupied mind. His wife, noticing his distant gaze, furrowed her eyebrows and fixed her eyes on him, silently urging him to meet her gaze. Despite her efforts, Calder merely took another bite and continued to chew, lost in his own thoughts."What's wrong?" She asked with a worried gaze."I'm just thinking..." He continued chewing and stopped eating with a long sigh."Will you just tell me?"His words are making her upset. She wants her goofy husband back. The one who makes others happy and smiles all the time."I have a bad feeling." Calder lets out a sigh after feeling his wife's frustration. "A storm is going to hit Roman's peace very soon. The horror is that I can't even warn him. How am I supposed to warn him?" He looks at me while blinking his eyes. "Just now, I saw Roman being himself again. He started smiling for himself, and this has to happen."His wife carefully stood up from the chair and held her belly while walking towards him. "I'm in no mood to solve riddles.""It's about Amelia." He held her waist, kept his head carefully over the baby, and sighed. "Anyhow, Roman was accepting that Amelia is no more and he can give up fighting. But this has to happen.""Why did Dean step into Roman's life? He was going to get fine with time." Calder mumbled, which the lady heard."Bu-but, Roman likes De--""He loves him. Honestly, they have feelings and a soft space for each other. However, Roman doesn't accept it, and Dean doesn't realize it." He looks at his wife. "What if I ask Dean to go away from Roman.?"She shook her head. "What are you saying? Are you even aware of--" She widens her eyes and whispers. "You shouldn't do it. It's not right."Calder sighed and shook his head. "You don't know what I know."He heard his phone ringing. He picks up the call from Roman's mom."Hello, aunt. How are you?"[Calder, I have a favor to ask you.]Calder sighed. "Aunt, if it's about Roman's marriage again, I—"[I have found the right girl. Even you know her. She's Amelia's friend, Freya.]Calder pursued his lips together and glanced at his wife, who was asking what happened.This is better for Roman. At least she doesn't have a past to hurt Roman.I can give it a try to help my friend, right?"That's wonderful. I'll see what can be done."[Marvelous! Please make them get close to each other using dates, outings, and stuff, you know.]"Alright. I'll do whatever I can."[This is the first time you agree without argument. I'm happy.]"Alright, aunt. I have work and need to leave now."He ends the call and looks at his wife. "It's just Roman who realized it. However, Dean didn't... so,"She shook her head. "No, don't do it. It will hurt them both. You will curse yourself your whole life then."Calder shook his head. "You don't understand—"She steps toward her husband. "Then, make me understand!""Amelia's heart is with Dean." Noticing his wife's confused face. "Dean is the recipient of Amelia's heart."She widens her eyes and keeps her hand on her mouth. "This can't be. Roman hates the person because...""Yes, this is the reason why he hates the recipient. He knows he lost his wife because of that person! He couldn't fight with the tycoon with a lot of connections and money."The lady gasped and sat on the chair. "Does Dean know about Amelia?"Calder shook his head. "I don't know about that.""Do something before the disaster. We can't lose Roman again." The lady whispered with closed eyes.[PAST]The funeral of Amelia Carter is something that none of the close people dreamed of.Calder's wife's breath hitched at the sight of the coffin, her feet inexplicably adhering to the ground as if drawn by some invisible force.Calder gently placed his arm on her shoulder, guiding her to move closer to him.The sky was not burdened with rain, but the heavy clouds seemed to be mourning, casting a dark shadow over the world below.Calder swiftly reached out to his friend, who was hunched over on the floor beside the coffin. His eyes, devoid of their usual warmth, stared into nothingness, and he softly uttered only the name of his beloved wife."Amy, Amy, Amy..."Calder jerked his shoulder. "Get back to me, man. You can't lose yourself like this."Calder roughly wiped his tears and held Roman close to him, forcing the male to stand up. However, Roman didn't move. He just stared at the coffin with a blank gaze."Pull yourself together, Roman. At least cry, you idiot! Let go of your pain. If you don't cry now, the pain will increase each day." Calder hugged his friend tightly."My friend, please. Amelia's soul won't be at peace knowing you're like this." He caressed Roman's hair, urging the man to let out his tears at least.The people watching the scene looked at the duo with pitiful eyes. The lady was too young to suffer this sudden death.A neighbor in her 40s pressed a kerchief to her eyes as she remembered Amelia giving Ayan to her for half an hour as she was going to meet her friend.She had known the girl since the newlyweds had shifted to their neighborhood. She cooked different dishes good for her pregnancy.As she looked across the room, her gaze settled on Roman, who was warmly embraced by his friend. Memories flooded her mind—how Roman used to entrust her with taking care of his wife in his absence, the thoughtful token of appreciation he brought when Ayan was born, and the way Roman would flash a wide, beaming smile that lit up his whole face.People turned quiet when they finally heard the sob of the widower.Calder wrapped his arms around his friend, pulling them close as he closed his eyes and felt the warmth of their embrace. He sensed the tears trickling down his own cheek, aching with empathy as he listened to his friend's deep sobs and cries.This is the first instance in which Roman finds himself overcome with intense grief, causing his eyes to sting with tears. Despite his own pain, he suppresses his sobs to comfort his friend.Roman managed to steady his racing heart and turned his gaze towards the coffin, where he witnessed a group of people standing by, gently lowering the lid and closing it shut.He struggled to catch his breath, rising unsteadily to his feet, and then reached out to grab Calder's coat."Don't! Don't take my wife!" He hugged the coffin with full force."My wife stays with me." He said, pushing others's hands away."My lo-love does not go anywhere!"Calder blinks his tears and holds Roman's hand.Roman gazed at Calder with tears glistening in his eyes, conveying the depth of his emotion. He shook his head slowly, overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.In response, Calder tenderly nodded in understanding and gently guided Roman's head towards his chest, offering comfort and solace in that quiet, poignant moment."You can't deny it anymore," Calder whispered, gesturing for others to raise the coffin.Roman struggled to break free from Calder's grasp, throwing punches and pushing against his stomach. Despite Roman's efforts, Calder remained unfazed, his eyes closed in concentration.With steady strength, Calder pulled Roman close to him, bearing Roman's weight as they moved slowly alongside the coffin.The final ritual came to an end with the departure of Amelia. Roman's soul also departed from this world.The man sits in front of the grave, his knees pulled close to his chest. His cheeks are streaked with tears, and his eyes overflow with a profound sense of loss and grief.Despite receiving sympathy for the family's situation, the husband felt that their condolences were unnecessary.All he wanted was to have his beloved back, along with the love and life they shared, and for everything to return to normal as if the tragic event had never occurred.A baby's gentle hiccups cause the husband to turn around and look at his mother-in-law, attempting to quiet the 10-month-old. Quickly reaching out to his in-law, he demanded his son."Ro—""Please, only he can now give me the courage." The grandmother hesitated before giving birth to her grandson. When the father hugged his son and held him close while he shed a few silent tears, she bit her handkerchief."Baby, be calm. Your papa is here." He stroked the boy's pink cheeks while gazing at the small nose that reminded him of his love, who had been asleep for all eternity."Your father is only able to breathe because of you. Otherwise..." The spouse glanced at the casket, which had been decorated with white flowers. He cries while closely embracing his son.He struggled to come to terms with the harshness of reality. He shut his eyes tightly, yearning to snap out of them. Despite feeling his son clutching his shirt, a part of him still resisted accepting the truth. However, his son's presence served as a comforting anchor, preventing him from succumbing to complete despair.The husband filed a case against the escaped driver. He would sit in the police station with a file of his wife.The authorities initiated an investigation following the autopsy. Calder frequently acted as a liaison, seeking information and updates on the case on behalf of his companion.He felt a deep sense of disappointment as he watched the authorities repeatedly shake their heads. All he could see was his friend consumed by the agony of not being able to seek justice for his wife.He decided to take exams to advance to a higher position, all while attending court appointments. The identity of the driver involved is still a mystery; nonetheless, Roman took legal action against the company.Unfortunately, there is a lack of conclusive evidence, as the surveillance camera was not functioning and no one witnessed the incidents.Anyhow, the company agreed to compensate with money. However, the widower refused it. Hence, the case closed with time.Unknown to them, a parcel arrived at Roman's door. When he opened it, he immediately called Calder."What's the meaning of this?" Calder shouts, seeing an infant doll with red cuts on it with a warning note.Just like your wife. You'll lose the child, too. Better let the case close and forget everything.Calder clenched his jaw with frustration as Roman readily acquiesced. He realized he couldn't compel the man to continue fighting. In due time, everything reached its conclusion, and the case was relegated to the bottom of the stack among numerous other unresolved cases.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Roman blinks his eyes with a wide yawn. He tenderly opens his teary eyes. He sat upright with another yawn. His eyes locked with his son sleeping with his left leg over the pillow and his hands thrown over the pillow. Blanket over right leg.Roman shook his head and fixed the duvet properly on Ayan. "Sleep some more, as it's a holiday."Glancing at the watch, his feet touched the floor. Until his eyes landed on his phone, which had an image of a person's back and black hair.He blinks his eyes and realizes the call is still active. It must be Dean sleeping. He picks up his phone, which is warm and whose battery is low."Good morning, Dean," Roman whispered with a smile as he fixed his bedhair.He noticed Dean shuffling and turning around. His hand falls in front of the phone. His face was puffy, and his hair was falling over his eyes.Roman chuckled and ended the call. Connecting the charger to his phone, he started his day.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇Dean frowns when he hears the door being knocked on. He threw the blanket away and slept on his stomach."Dean, wake up," Ethan calls, and he enters the room after the formal knocking, for name's sake.He looks around the table with furrowed eyebrows. "Dean, where's my phone?" He pulled Dean's blanket away, and Dean whined and curled himself into a fetal position."Gosh, you're still a child," Ethan whispered and finally saw his phone leaning against another pillow."Man, the battery is 2%? What the!" Ethan pushed Dean and sat on the bed, forcing Dean to move aside."Brother, you're so mean!" Dean whined and sat upright."You talked with Roman, sir, for how long?"Dean blinks his eyes. "Hmm?"Ethan taps the phone on Dean's head. "Stupid, how long did you talk with me, sir? My phone will die at any moment."Dean says, holding his toes. "We talked," she said, looking up while trying to remember the time. "I don't know. I fell asleep, and" he widens his eyes. "Brother, I don't snore, right?"Ethan hid a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You snore? Man, you shout through your nose. You're so loud that I can hear in my room too."Dean had already rolled inside the blanket and his face. "I'm done. So done. This is so embarrassing. What will Roman think about me?"Ethan chuckled and heard a notification on his phone. "Ok, now shut up and get yourself to the dining table. We are waiting for you."Ethan opens the message while stepping inside his room. It's from Rome, sir.Hi, Ethan. If you guys don't have any plans for today, why don't we go on small outings? Fresh air will make Dean feel better and help him forget whatever happened yesterday.⋇⋆✦⋆⋇"What did you do?" Nathan looks at the opposite cell, where a guy with curly hair looks at him with curious eyes."Your suit looks expensive." He checked on Nathan from head to toe. "How much will I get if I sell it?"Nathan rather preferred ignoring him and continued staring at the floor with red eyes.The man raised eyebrows at Nathan's silence. "Heartbreak?"Nathan looks at him. The cellmate smiled and nodded to himself. "Heart is such a stupid thing, you know? It always falls for the one you will never get."Nathan looks at the floor with a deep sigh.The other man smiled. "It's ok to get rejected. It's normal to feel left behind. It's fine to be happy with just yourself."Nathan blinked his eyes and whispered. "He blamed everything on him. Asking whether my love healed him. He says he was alone, facing everything when he needed me," sighing to himself with closed eyes. "He didn't even ask how I was living without him. His heart didn't fill with happiness when he saw me. Am I so bad that I don't deserve a happy life?"The other man chuckled. "When did life give you the one you desire?"Nathan chuckled and shook his head. When his chest felt heavy enough to even breathe. His eyes are yet again brimming with tears."My heart is hurting so bad that I want to tear it away from me. My heart couldn't link with his."The other man rolled his eyes. "Heart and sh*t. Both are the same."