After a long, quiet period of reflection, Oliver found himself walking down an empty road. The street lay empty, devoid of any signs of life—no passing men, women, or carriages. Modest, unlit establishments and spiky, leafless trees lined the path, creating a narrow alley. The lampposts stood silent, lacking any flickering flames, blending in with the surrounding darkness—as if becoming one with Oliver's shadow.

     Dusk had bitten the land like a ravenous beast, plunging the moonless sky into an abyss. Darkness shrouded every direction, with no glimmering moon or twinkling stars in sight. The frigid wind howled eerily, adding an unsettling atmosphere to the scene.

     As Oliver continued his solitary journey along the empty street, he cast wary glances ahead and to his sides. No companion walked by his side, and his shadow merged with the darkness. A sense of unease crept over him, causing him to tighten his grip on the box in his hands. The wind brushed against his back, sending a cold shiver down his spine. With each step, Oliver's movements grew increasingly soundless—as if he were attempting to blend into the stillness of the night.

     A sense of rue tugs at Oliver, pulling him backwards. Regret seeps in as he realizes he has ventured into a street that leads into the unknown. His feet long to turn around, but his courage insists on pressing forward.

     Suddenly, a tingling sensation pricks the skin on Oliver's back, penetrating through the layers of clothing meant to shield him from the cold. Freezing stabs shoot down his spine, sending cold waves through his body. His jaw quivers, and his breath deepens.

     Oliver quickens his pace, sensing the rushing chills closing in behind him. His mind commands him not to glance back or turn his head but to walk faster. However, curiosity tempts him to steal a swift, effortless glimpse over his shoulder.

     Suddenly, a twig snaps behind Oliver, causing his eyes to widen and his breath to catch. Left with no choice, he swiftly spins around. His eyes dart from left to right, scanning the dimly lit street behind him. Oliver squints, attempting to discern any movement as he surveys the road. Yet all he sees is the impenetrable darkness of the path.

     Oliver's mind urges him to dismiss the unsettling feeling and return home quickly. As he turns to continue his journey, he gasps in surprise upon unexpectedly coming face to face with a man. However, his fear quickly dissipates, and he exhales with relief. The man before him poses no threat; it is none other than Gregory, Oliver's beloved spouse.

"Greg!" Oliver laughed, lightly punching Gregory on his arm.

"Oh, my!" Gregory expressed concern, feeling remorseful for startling his spouse. "Oli, I- I am so sorry! Oh, I feel terrible for scaring you!" he leaned closer to Oliver.

"I almost dropped the pie for our children!" Oliver giggled, shaking his head.

"Oh! I'm sorry! So sorry!" Gregory felt genuine guilt as he moved closer to Oliver, wrapping his arms around his spouse.

As Oliver continued to giggle, he reassured him. "Mhmh! It's alright! Relax!" he said.

"My! What are you even doing in this street??" Gregory asked.

"I intended to swing by your workplace so we could head home together," Oliver replied with a grin.

"If that's your desire, let's make our way back home together now," Gregory smirked as he extended his arm to Oliver. "Shall we?"

"We shall," Oliver responded, looping his forearm around Gregory's arm.

     The voices of the two men gradually faded into the background as they strolled together down the street. Oliver no longer felt the intrusion of racing thoughts in his mind, comforted by the presence of his protective spouse. They exchanged laughter and conversation as they continued their march.

     Oliver and Gregory venture deeper into the street until they reach a section of the road where lampposts cast their warm glow on the surroundings. Meanwhile, Cal hid in the shadows of an alleyway with his minions. Cal stepped forward, stealing a cautious glance. To his dismay, he saw Oliver accompanied by another taller man with black hair.

     An intense desire to see the face of the mysterious black-haired man consumes Cal's mind. He squints, focusing his gaze sharply on Oliver's companion. Just as the black-haired man briefly looks back, Cal catches sight of his face. Cal's teeth clench and grind together as frustration surges through his heart.

Soon, Oliver and Gregory wearily returned home, their bodies drained from the long day.

"We're home!"

Victoria, Elizabeth, Albert, George, and Jean overheard Oliver's voice emanating from the entrance. Gasping, they quickly dashed towards their parents, giggling as they reunited.

"Dad and Dad are back home!" Albert cheered as he raced with his siblings to their parents.

Elizabeth's eyes lit up as she spotted the box of warm pies in Oliver's hands. "Ooh! Is that pie!?" she exclaimed with excitement.

"Yes! We brought you some pie!" Oliver replied, handing the box over to Elizabeth.

"Yipee!" Elizabeth joyfully grabbed the box in her hands, leaping with excitement. She then dashed off to the dining room as she giggled.

     Sophia, Sarrah, and Bethany emerge from the staircase and descend to the lobby. Their enthusiasm radiates from behind their gleaming smiles, illuminated by the sparkling chandelier above them. As they reach the ground floor, they smirk and close their eyes halfway through. And as their shoes touch the wooden floorboard, they immediately approach Oliver and Gregory at the entrance, swaying their hips confidently.

"Good evening!" Sophia grinned.

Oliver's eyes immediately locked on the girls. "Ooh..." he huffed, his fascination drawing his face closer to them.

"Woah..." Gregory gasped, his breath catching in his throat as he gawked at the girls, his eyes widening in awe.

     Sophia wears a flowy, lightweight dress with puffy sleeves and a high-waisted, bell-shaped skirt. Two pearl earrings and multiple strands of pearl necklaces accentuate her ensemble. Her outfit shimmers like a ripe crimson apple, and delicate floral embroideries encircle her hemline. While her neckline plunges, revealing her bust, her hands and elbows remain concealed by white gloves. Curls dangle around her face, framing it beautifully, while braids intertwine into an intricate high bun atop her head.

     Sarrah dons a golden cream dress, mirroring Sophia's silhouette. Her silky bell-shaped skirt sways with every step while her curled fringe frames her face. White gloves grace her wrists, concealing her fair, porcelain hands. The silver heart pendant on her pearl necklace glistens, perfectly complementing the broader puff of her shoulder sleeves.

     Meanwhile, Bethany sports a greyish sage-green dress with a voluminous skirt and short sleeves. Black floral motifs run around her hemline, mirroring the gloves that cover her arms. Her curly hair is styled into tall triple buns, beautifully adorned with countless braids. Amber topaz earrings drop from her ears to her shoulders, and a silver heart pendant adds a glimmer to her pearl necklace around her cleavage.

"So, how do we look?" Sarrah asked Oliver and Gregory, wearing a smirk on her face.

"Woah! Those dresses look new!" Gregory exclaimed, pointing at the girls' outfits.

"We've just recently invented this new style!" Bethany chimed in.

"And, on top of that, our outfits are a la mode," Sophia said, closing her eyes as her smirk widened.

"Wow..." Oliver chuckled. "I think you're all gorgeous!"

"I must say, I genuinely love it," Gregory added.

"Thank you!" Sophia smiled.

"I knew they would say we're gorgeous," Bethany whispered to Sarrah.

"Ha, as expected," Sarrah replied. She then turned to the children and asked, "And what about you, children? What do you think of our outfits?"

Victoria offered her critique on the style of their outfits. "Hmm... I think there are too many distracting motifs and designs." She then shared her suggestion, "I would prefer to wear something modest yet elegant."

Sarrah smirked and playfully pinched Victoria's cheek. "Heh. I bet once you girls grow up, you'll change fashion to your liking, too."

Sophia lowered to her knees and whispered into Victoria's ear. "And I bet the boys' clothes will not change and still look like their fathers' outfits in the future."

Albert overheard Sophia's murmurs and caught her attention. "Bet!" Albert giggled, furrowing his brows as he grinned mischievously.

"Huh?" Bethany responded, thinking that Albert was calling her.

"He said bet without an 'H'," Sarrah clarified to Bethany. "Also, only I call you Beth, remember?"

"Oh," Bethany felt slightly embarrassed, but her confidence still allowed a giggle to escape from her lips. "Hehe."