To Have, To Hold

Chapter 5

### **Chapter Five: An Unexpected Light**

---

The day **Alexander arrived** felt like a sharp contrast to the oppressive atmosphere that had filled the house for weeks. Elena stood by the front window, watching the sleek black car pull up to the driveway. There was a knot of anxiety in her stomach, not because she feared Alexander's presence, but because of what his arrival would do to Marcus. Marcus had barely spoken to her that morning, his face set in a grim expression, as if preparing for a battle only he could see.

The doorbell rang, its chime echoing through the house, and Elena's heart skipped a beat. She could feel Marcus tense beside her, his hands clenching and unclenching as he walked to the door. Liam hovered nearby, curious but uncertain, his wide eyes peeking over the back of the couch. He hadn't said much all morning, just as quiet and withdrawn as he'd been since the incident with Marcus days before.

When Marcus opened the door, there stood **Alexander**, tall and handsome, with the same sharp features as his brother but an entirely different air about him. Where Marcus was all tension and simmering anger, Alexander exuded an easy confidence, a warmth that filled the space as soon as he stepped inside.

"**Marcus**!" Alexander's voice boomed, a wide grin spreading across his face. To Elena's surprise, his eyes lit up with genuine affection. "It's been too long, little brother."

Marcus's stiff posture remained, but Elena noticed the flicker of something in his expression—something that looked almost like confusion. She had expected hostility, perhaps a tense handshake, but not this.

Without waiting for an invitation, Alexander pulled Marcus into a bear hug, slapping him on the back with such force that it made Liam giggle from where he stood by the couch. Marcus, clearly caught off guard, patted his brother's back awkwardly before pulling away, clearing his throat.

"**Alexander**," Marcus muttered, his tone carefully controlled. "You're early."

Alexander chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling as he turned his attention to the room. "Can't help myself. Always liked to be early." His gaze landed on **Liam**, and his face softened instantly. "And who's this? My nephew, right?"

Liam shifted nervously, his small hands gripping the fabric of his shirt as he nodded shyly.

Alexander crouched down to Liam's level, his smile widening. "You're even more handsome than I imagined. Come here, kiddo."

At first, Liam hesitated, glancing at Elena as if for approval. But something about Alexander's demeanor—his easy smile, the kindness in his eyes—seemed to reassure the boy. Slowly, Liam stepped forward, allowing Alexander to pull him into a gentle hug. When Alexander lifted him up, spinning him in a small circle, Liam let out a burst of laughter that echoed through the room.

It was a sound Elena hadn't heard in so long—genuine, full of joy. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched, and her heart ached at the sight of it. For the first time in what felt like forever, she saw Liam's smile reach his eyes.

**Liam** wasn't used to affection, especially not from a man. Marcus had always been distant with him, cold and critical. There were no hugs, no playful moments like this between father and son. But Alexander? Alexander seemed to slip into the role effortlessly, as if he had always belonged there.

Elena's gaze lingered on her son's face, memorizing the way his cheeks dimpled when he laughed, the way his eyes sparkled. For a brief moment, it was as if the tension of the past weeks had evaporated, replaced by this rare moment of light.

When Alexander set Liam back down, he ruffled the boy's hair affectionately, his own laughter mingling with Liam's. "We're going to have fun, you and me. You like soccer, right?"

Liam nodded eagerly, his previous shyness forgotten in the face of his uncle's attention. "Yeah! Can we play later?"

"Of course!" Alexander winked, glancing over at Elena for the first time since entering the house. His smile softened as their eyes met. "And you must be Elena."

For a second, Elena didn't know how to respond. The last time she had seen Alexander was such a fleeting moment, a distant memory that had blurred over the years. And now here he was, standing in her living room, his presence so different from Marcus's that it was almost jarring.

She nodded, offering a small, polite smile. "Yes, it's nice to see you again."

Alexander's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his expression warm and genuine. "**You're even more beautiful than I remember**," he said, his voice carrying a sincerity that caught her off guard.

Elena felt her cheeks flush slightly at the unexpected compliment, her hand brushing nervously at her hair. Marcus, standing just a few feet away, barely reacted. He shrugged off Alexander's words with a dismissive grunt, his attention already elsewhere. It was a stark reminder of how different things had become between them. Years ago, a compliment like that might have earned a possessive glare from Marcus, some territorial remark. Now, he didn't seem to care at all.

Alexander didn't seem to notice, or if he did, he chose to ignore it. Instead, he turned back to Liam, engaging the boy in another lighthearted conversation about soccer teams and favorite players, his easy laughter filling the space once more.

Elena found herself standing on the edges of the scene, watching the dynamic unfold in front of her. For years, she had endured Marcus's coldness, his anger, and his distance. And yet here, in just a few short minutes, Alexander had brought a warmth into the house that she hadn't known they were missing.

As the conversation continued, Elena felt a mix of emotions swirling within her—relief, sadness, and something she couldn't quite name. Alexander was a guest, an outsider, but in this brief moment, he had become a source of light in the darkened world she and Liam inhabited.

For the first time in a long while, Elena dared to hope that things could be different, if only for a little while. But as she glanced at Marcus, who stood brooding silently in the corner, that hope flickered dangerously. Alexander's presence might be a respite, but it was also a spark—and sparks could ignite something far more dangerous.

---