CHAPTER 67: THINKING OF A BIG IDEA

The car Alaric was riding in finally pulled into the driveway. The atmosphere felt familiar, though unusually quiet. Understandable, since he had been out all day. Robin quickly got out from behind the wheel to open the door, but Alaric had already pushed it open himself. He wanted this moment of coming home to feel natural, not overly formal.

On the front porch, a woman who still looked quite young stood waiting for him. Her black hair was neatly combed, and the casual homewear she had on reflected the warmth of a mother.

Her face radiated unconditional love for her only son. Her gaze always welcomed Alaric with a pride that never seemed to fade.

"You’re home, sweetheart," his mother said as soon as she saw him.

Alaric stepped closer, holding up the cake box he had been carrying. "I brought you something, Mom."

Her smile instantly grew wider. She accepted the box with care, as though it held something precious, even though it was just a cake.

"Red velvet," she whispered happily, her eyes softening with affection. "You really do know what I love most."

Alaric offered a faint smile. He didn’t say much. For him, seeing her smile was enough of a reward for the small gesture of buying her something.

As she placed the cake on the table near the living room, she turned back to him. "So, how was your match today? You look exhausted," she asked gently, without a trace of judgment in her voice. It was a mother’s pure curiosity, wrapped in unconditional love.

Alaric lowered his gaze for a moment, then replied quietly, "I lost, Mom."

She showed no sign of disappointment. In fact, her smile stayed just as warm, even brighter. She walked closer, gently patted his shoulder, then ran her hand along his back, as if brushing away the lingering weight of defeat.

"Well then, that just means you’ll have to train even harder next time," she said, passing her strength to him.

Alaric turned to her, studying her calm, cheerful face despite what he had just confessed. A wave of relief passed through him, mixed with an emotion he couldn’t quite explain. He nodded slowly. "Yeah, Mom."

Still, deep down, he refused to dwell too long in that moment. He was trying to see the loss as something ordinary, something not worth holding onto for too long. He chose to push the disappointment aside, bury it somewhere it wouldn’t burden his thoughts.

His mother added, "Alright then, go clean up. Take a shower, okay? I’ll make you some hot tea."

Alaric took a deep breath and offered a small smile. "Okay, Mom."

The young man made his way to his room. His body felt heavy with fatigue, and sweat from the earlier match still clung to his skin, making him feel sticky and uncomfortable. In the bathroom, he turned on the shower and let the cold water cascade over him.

Each drop seemed to wash away the sweat, the heat, and the exhaustion that had built up throughout the day. He closed his eyes, letting his mind go blank, just savoring the cool sensation of water hitting his skin.

Several minutes later, he was done. His hair was still damp, but his body felt much lighter and refreshed. He stepped into his room and collapsed onto the bed. The sheets were cool, and the mattress welcomed his tired body like an old friend.

A soft knock on the door broke the quiet.

Knock... knock...

"Come in," he said without getting up.

The door opened, and one of the housekeepers entered, carrying a small tray with a cup of steaming tea. Its aroma filled the room. Soft and calming, instantly making the atmosphere more peaceful.

"Your mother made this for you, Alaric," the housekeeper said quietly, setting the cup down on the bedside table.

Alaric barely glanced at it. His body was still too lazy to move. "Just leave it there," he murmured.

Anna nodded in understanding and quietly left, closing the door behind her.

His gaze lingered on the cup of tea beside him, the steam still curling into the air. But his body refused to respond. He stayed in bed, letting his fatigue pull him deeper into rest. He figured the tea could wait, he’d drink it later when he felt more ready.

---

The next morning...

His mother was rushing about, getting ready to visit a sick friend. She was moving quickly, organizing some things on the table. She turned toward Alaric and called out, "Sweetheart, before you head to work, could you pick up some groceries for me? Just snacks, drinks, and fruits to restock the kitchen. I’m in a hurry—gotta check on someone."

Alaric nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Sure, Mom. I’ll get them," he replied easily. It wasn’t a big ask. The supermarket wasn’t far. Just a few minutes away by car. Plus, he still had a few hours to spare before work.

He walked toward the garage, where his car was already waiting. One of his staff members, a guy he was fairly close with, was waiting by the vehicle. He looked relaxed but still carried himself with a sense of professionalism.

"All set, Boss?" the man asked, patting the side of the car seat.

"Ready," Alaric said briefly, smiling a little before getting in. "We’re heading to the supermarket first, but stay sharp. We’ve got some important things to cover after this."

His staff nodded, started the car, and they drove off. On the way, Alaric stared out the window, his thoughts drifting to what he’d need to pick up.

Buying groceries and snacks for the house was a simple routine, but for him, it gave a quiet sense of satisfaction. He liked choosing items himself. No long list, no waiting for a housekeeper to check what was needed. He could just get what he felt was right for his mother.

When they arrived at the supermarket, Alaric stepped out and took a deep breath. The air was filled with the scent of fresh fruit, baked bread, and the sugary sweetness of pastries. Mike stayed close by, alert and waiting for instructions while occasionally scanning the crowd.

"Start with the fruit section, Boss?" Mike asked.

Alaric nodded. "Yeah. Let’s find the freshest ones. Pick the ones that haven’t been sitting out too long." His eyes scanned the rows of apples, pears, and oranges.

He took his time, inspecting each piece of fruit, weighing the apples in his hands, testing the firmness of the skin. Mike stayed nearby, ready to step in if needed, but giving Alaric the space to choose at his own pace.

"Now let’s check the drinks," Alaric said once they were done. They walked through the aisle filled with bottles of juice, flavored water, and sparkling beverages.

From time to time, Alaric stopped to read the labels, considering which flavors his mother would like best. He wanted everything he bought to bring a bit of happiness to his home. It was more than just ticking off a list.

Then came the snack section. Alaric looked more relaxed but still focused. He picked a mix of new items, hoping the variety would add a bit of excitement for his mother and the staff at home during their breaks.

He even tossed in a few unplanned items, things that caught his eye simply because of an appealing package or a tempting scent.

Mike smiled to himself. He knew that for Alaric, the process of carefully selecting each item mattered more than simply getting the job done. Every choice was thoughtful, even if it was something small.

While organizing the items neatly in the cart, Alaric casually started a conversation.

"What if I created a device—or something... that could support people who are sick or disabled during recovery? What do you think?" he asked, glancing at Mike to make sure he was really listening.

Mike furrowed his brow for a moment, then nodded slowly. "That actually sounds pretty great, Boss. But are you sure something like that could really function the way a human caregiver does? I mean, systems can be automated, sure, but adapting to real-life needs is tough to program."

The young man let out a quiet breath and replied with a faint smile, "Even if it’s fully automated, there should still be a human behind it. Monitoring and troubleshooting 24/7. That way, it stays safe and doesn’t become a risk to the patient. I want it to genuinely help people, but it needs to stay under control."

Mike nodded several times, visibly more confident now. "Give it a shot, Boss. You’ve always come up with efficient tech that makes people’s jobs easier. Who knows, this might be the start of your biggest success yet."

Alaric gave him a meaningful smile, then turned back to the shopping cart. Time had passed quickly. The cart was now full of fresh food, drinks, and carefully selected snacks. He took a deep breath, leaned slightly on the cart handle, and said, "Alright. Help me carry these out. You handle the checkout."

Mike took over, swiping the card Alaric handed him with practiced ease. Alaric, meanwhile, stepped out of the shopping aisle and headed toward a bench near the entrance.

The store had gotten busy. Long lines had formed at the register. Luckily, having his staff with him meant he didn’t have to wait shoulder-to-shoulder with the crowd.