Chapter 51: Childhood Sweethearts
"Aren’t they adorable?" Mario exclaimed with a warm smile as he placed a cup of tea and a sandwich on the table. "Sir Alexander and Sir William were often mistaken for twins even when they were growing up. Though William is a bit younger—two years younger, to be exact."
Rain nodded, her eyes still wandering over the various family photos that lined the walls. Mario approached her, pointing out the nuances in the brothers’ appearances. "They both have a mix of their mother’s and father’s features, except for their eyes and hair colours."
She nodded again, noting the differences herself. Alexander had inherited their father’s black hair but their mother’s striking grey eyes. William, on the other hand, had their mother’s brown hair and their father’s blue eyes.
Her gaze settled on a particular photograph, the last family picture with their mother. She was holding a baby William while a toddler-aged Alexander stood close by, a wide smile on his face. "When did she die?" Rain asked, almost to herself, unable to tear her eyes away from the image.
Mario’s expression softened. "She passed away a year after giving birth to William. In that photo, the young master is just one year old, and Sir Alexander was three."
Rain’s curiosity deepened. "How did it happen? Why did she die?"
Mario sighed, his tone respectful as he explained. "Madam Alexa had a heart disease. She underwent surgery and had a pacemaker implanted after her marriage to Sir Rock. Everything seemed fine at first—they even had two sons. But after William’s birth, complications arose. I don’t know all the details, but she suffered heart failure just a month after William’s first birthday."
Rain felt a pang of sorrow as she imagined the family’s loss. Mario continued, his voice filled with admiration. "Mr. Rock took on the roles of both father and mother after that. He never remarried, despite the attention he received from women over the years. His entire focus was on raising his sons the way their mother wanted to raise them. He’s always been very hands-on with them."
Rain could sense the deep respect Mario held for her father-in-law. It was clear that Mr. Rock had been the pillar of strength for the family, guiding his sons through the difficult years after losing their mother.