Love, Take it Off

EIGHT

Years went by, and soon another child was born into their family. This time, Zyquavious Ree Astorias entered the world. Ipinanganak ni Yesenia si Vious while Reus and Yesenia were managing their intelligence guild in the Philippines.

As Yesenia held her second child in her arms for the first time, she felt a rush of love and hope, imagining him growing up to be innocent and kind like his father. She couldn't help but smile, thinking about the future they would share as a family.

Outside the delivery room, Reus paced anxiously, cradling Eveleen in his arms. Worry devoured him as he thought about Yesenia and their newborn. His brother Zereid stood beside him, trying to calm his racing mind. Knowing Reus all too well, Zereid recognized his tendency to overthink when Yesenia was out of sight.

Just then, a nurse emerged from the delivery room, her face clouded with sadness. Zereid quickly took Eveleen from Reus's arms, sensing the weight of the moment.

The nurse delivered the news that Zyquavious was healthy and resting in the nursery, but then she hesitated, her expression shifting. She explained that shortly after Yesenia had given birth, her heart rate had dropped dramatically, and despite efforts to save her, she had passed away on the delivery table.

The world around Reus seemed to shatter in that instant. He fell to the ground, tears streaming down his cheeks as grief washed over him. A fire ignited within him, a mixture of anger and despair that threatened to consume him. He felt the weight of his second son's life and the crushing loss of Yesenia, leaving him crawling with a void he could hardly comprehend.

In his heart, Reus wrestled with a devastating thought: that Zyquavious had taken Yesenia's life. This belief poisoned his mind, making it impossible for him to see anything but the pain of loss. He felt an overwhelming anger directed toward his second child, convinced that no reason could ever change his feelings. In that moment of despair, the joy of a new life was overshadowed by the heartache of losing the love of his life.