Chapter 966: Chapter 966 Commander
“Ross, you’re here. Is Carrie back already?” Russell asked, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
His shirt clung to him from the effort of struggling with the half-finished cabinet in front of him.
Carpentry was never his strength, and though he had been at it for hours, the uneven pieces and scattered tools only proved his lack of skill.
“I’m here, Dad! I’m just making some snacks for everyone,” Carrie’s cheerful voice rang out from the living room.
“Good,” Russell muttered, nodding absently.
He glanced toward his wife, Alexa, who stood nearby with a soft smile.
That smile, however, only added to the weight on his shoulders.
He hated looking helpless in front of her, hated admitting defeat when it came to something as simple as building furniture.
Still, the frustration in his hands and the ache in his back reminded him of the truth he couldn’t ignore—he wasn’t cut out for this kind of work.
His eyes shifted toward Ross.
The big man stood there quietly, relaxed, his presence filling the room in a way Russell both envied and admired.
Pride warred with insecurity in his chest.
He wanted to show that he could handle it on his own, but at the same time, he couldn’t keep pretending.
At last, he sighed, the fight draining from his shoulders.
“Well… if you’ve got the time, Ross, I’d be happy to get an extra pair of hands. Thank you.”
The words came out heavier than he expected, but once spoken, he felt some of the tension lift.
A deep breath of relief escaped him, though he tried not to make it too obvious.
Ross stepped forward, a small smile playing on his lips as he glanced at the scattered boards and half-assembled cabinet.
He could tell that this man had been wrestling with it for a long while.
“Don’t worry, Russell. We’ll have this finished in no time. You just needed a little backup.”
Russell let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “I guess so. Maybe I was trying too hard to prove something.”
Alexa walked over then, brushing her hand lightly against Russell’s arm.
“There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, you know. Besides, seeing the two of you work together will make this cabinet even more meaningful.”
Her words eased Russell more than he cared to admit.
He chuckled again, this time more freely, as Ross bent down to start sorting the scattered pieces.
For the first time that afternoon, Russell felt less like a man struggling against wood and nails, and more like a father sharing a moment with his son.
But not really, since Ross was in his forties as well.
Yet, the contrast between the two men was undeniable.
Russell must have been a striking man in his youth—strong jawline, confident posture, and sharp, commanding eyes—but time had begun to claim its toll.
Gray hairs peeked through his dark locks, and fine lines etched themselves around his eyes and mouth.
His body no longer moved with the same ease it once had, and even standing there, he couldn’t hide the slight stiffness in his shoulders.
He was still respectable, still a good-looking man, but the years had softened the edge he once possessed.
Ross, however, was different.
Though technically in his forties, he carried all the vitality, vigor, and perfect proportions of a man in his twenties.
Every movement was fluid and controlled, radiating strength and confidence.
His hair was dark and untamed, his eyes sharp, and his presence alone commanded attention.
The benefits of being a true immortal were evident: age could not touch him, and he would remain in this prime form for countless millennia.
The world around him could crumble, civilizations could rise and fall, yet he would always retain this perfect vigor.
Alexa, too, was in her forties, yet she seemed untouched by time.
Her skin was flawless, her figure firm and elegant, every motion graceful and deliberate.
It was clear she had maintained herself carefully, nurturing both body and mind, and it showed.
Any man would be drawn to her, compelled by more than just beauty—a magnetic pull that seemed almost unnatural.
Her aura alone spoke of beauty, confidence, and sensuality.
And Ross, of course, would be the only one who could claim her fully, intimately, in ways that would leave the rest of the world powerless to even imagine.
Russell, observing them both, felt a mixture of awe, envy, and helplessness.
He had always been proud of his family, of his own strength and achievements, but standing next to Ross highlighted everything he was not.
Ross’s presence was magnetic, overwhelming, and it made Russell feel both inferior and strangely protective over Alexa.
He could see how she glowed in Ross’s attention, how her eyes sparkled with subtle, unspoken longing, and it stirred something deep inside him—a mixture of admiration for Ross, fear of losing his wife, and resignation to the inevitable.
Alexa herself noticed the difference but only smiled softly, understanding the dynamic without needing words.
Ross’s immortality and vitality made him untouchable, commanding, yet there was an undeniable warmth in how he observed her, a possessiveness that was both thrilling and frightening.
She could feel it in every glance, every shift of his stance.
Soon, she feared, he would be the one to claim what others could only fantasize about.
And deep down, a shiver of trepidation ran through her, as she wondered exactly how and when that would come to pass and whether she was strong enough to resist him.
“Here we go.” Ross rolled up his sleeves, the faint gleam of anticipation in his eyes.
He approached the cabinet with deliberate care, moving slowly and methodically as if each action were a performance.
He had no intention of finishing quickly; the longer he took, the more time he would have to subtly draw Alexa closer to the forbidden path he intended for her.
Every adjustment, every measured movement, was a chance to linger near her, to let temptation curl around her mind and heart until resistance became nearly impossible.