Rafael sat in the dimly lit corner of the bar, the flickering candlelight dancing on the scratched wooden table. The glass of wine in his hand was nearly empty, but he wasn’t in a rush to refill it. His dark, piercing eyes stared blankly at the crimson liquid, searching for answers he knew he would never find. The revelation that the child Annette carried wasn’t his felt like a dagger stabbing into his chest. He was shattered, but the cold anger coursing through his veins kept him grounded. The betrayal felt like a poison slowly spreading, burning every corner of his mind.Caesar, ever loyal, sat across from him. He wanted desperately to ask why his master looked so broken, but he didn’t dare disturb the silence. Instead, he cautiously broke it with a soft question. “Sir, have you considered returning to the capital?”Rafael lifted his gaze slightly, his dark eyes meeting Caesar’s. He didn’t respond immediately, allowing the question to hang in the air. Finally, after a long pause, Ra