Darkness Behind The Light

The birthday party was perfect at first. The soft glow of the lights, the warm laughter of friends, and the presence of Dad always gave a sense of security in the crowd.

Livia still remembers how she laughed out loud next to her father, Rhysand, who was serving the guests with his trademark smile.

Everything was so ordinary, yet full of simple happiness. However, no one knew that it was their last moments together. There was laughter, music, and the smell of freshly baked blueberry cake. Livia felt very happy, surrounded by the people she loved.

In the festivities, a phone call broke the fun. Rhysand frowned when he saw the caller's name on his cell phone screen.

"Sorry, I have to take a quick phone call," he told Livia before moving away from the crowd.

Rhysand's initially bright face slowly paled when he heard the panicked voice from the other side. He staggered back, his hands trembling as he held the cell phone. "What? How come?" he muttered, his voice choked.

Livia, who saw the change in her father's expression from a distance, had a bad feeling. She approached Rhysand, her heart filled with anxiety.

"Dad, what's wrong?" she asked anxiously. Rhysand fell silent, his breathing ragged, his chest tight. He tried to speak, but no words came out of his mouth. It seemed like his vision blurred, his body was unsteady, and...

At the same time, Livia felt her father's grip loosen. The cell phone slipped from Rhysand's hand, falling with a thud to the floor as her father's body collapsed unconscious.

"Dad!" screeched Livia, panicking. Her world seemed to collapse in an instant. The happiness that had once enveloped her heart vanished instantly, replaced by an overwhelming dread.

Livia's scream broke the party's silence, causing panic among the guests. They crowded around, watching in horror as Rhysand lay helplessly on the floor, his face deathly pale.

"Father! Father!" Livia kneeled beside Rhysand, desperately shaking her father's body, hoping he would open his eyes. However, Rhysand did not respond. Her body felt cold.

"Call an ambulance! Hurry!" shouted one of the guests, his voice filled with panic. Some guests rushed out to seek help, while others tried to calm the hysterical Livia.

Isolde, who had just come out of the kitchen with a tray of cookies, was rooted to the spot. The tray slipped out of her hands and fell to the floor, the once beautiful cakes now falling apart just as her heart broke.

"Rhysand!" Isolde ran to her husband, tears streaming down her cheeks. She kneeled beside Livia, hugging her daughter tightly. "Hold on, my darling," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please..."

The ambulance's sirens broke the night's silence, but to Livia, the sound was like the howl of a wolf as her father departed forever. The medics tried their best, but fate had a different opinion.

Rhysand Vane, the master bartender and the loving father has breathed his last.

Her sudden departure made Livia feel like she was losing a part of herself. Every second that passed felt heavier. Her tears seemed to have dried up, and she could no longer wet her pale cheeks.

Isolde, unable to bear the burden of grief, collapsed beside her husband's body. The neighbours rushed to carry her to her room. Livia remained transfixed, like a statue, her body rigid but her soul trapped in a painful void.

Some of her close friends tried to comfort her with encouragement, but Livia only nodded weakly and flashed a very forced smile. Their words were like the wind, unable to penetrate the wall of sadness that surrounded her heart.