Alaric
"Hello, Mother," I greeted warmly as I stepped through the grand double doors of my family's mansion. It had been months since I last saw her or my siblings—not since the Bahrain Grand Prix—and the familiar scent of home immediately wrapped around me, easing a fraction of the tension locked in my shoulders.
My mother rushed forward, her eyes lighting up as she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. "My baby... it is so good to see you again," she murmured, resting her cheek against my chest.
"Alaric!"
A loud, excited shout echoed from the top of the marble staircase. I looked up just in time to see my younger sister, Catherine, practically sprinting down the steps. She threw herself into my arms, hugging me tightly. "Hello, big brother," she giggled, pulling back to inspect my face. "Honestly, seeing you in person feels like meeting a famous celebrity!"
My mother smiled softly, keeping her hand resting comfortably on my arm. "Well, he is a celebrity, darling."
