When Alaric got into his office, his hands were still shaking. His heart continuously stretched with agony, it blinded his sense of reasoning.
He lowered his head on the table and exhaled severally in an attempt to reclaim his calm. But it proved difficult as every breath he took reminded him of the monster he had been.
It wasn't his fault - he tried to remind himself. His mother's absence had left him too vulnerable. Yes, he was his father's favourite. But growing up, the man had been too busy for him. There were times he'd only see him once a week.
And even when he had gotten married to Frankie, he was still alone. Well, yeah, he despised his stepmother as he had only seen her as a woman who was there to take his mum's place. He had hated everything about her, and she had made it wors
