"Whoooa! Damn, life—that hurt!" he groaned, rubbing his temples.
He blinked rapidly, his pupils shifting into a striking shade of gold.
The woman gasped. Ethan's hands clenched into fists.
John wasn't just healed.
He had changed.
He looked around, eyes wide, as if seeing the world for the first time. Every ripple of energy, every unseen force—he felt it, could almost touch it.
Xander and Ethan exchanged a look.
"Welcome back from being blind, Master," his butler said.
John laughed and said, "Nothing better! I met my god!"
Xander looked at the old woman and said, "Hey, long time no see, little girl!"
The old woman laughed. "Really! You never forget! No wonder my brother keeps nagging me! Thanks for everything."
Xander laughed and said, "What's the big plan, kids? You're just brave! I like that!"
He looked at Alex and said, "Son, follow Uncle John."
"Where are you going, Father?" Alex asked.
Xander knelt before Alex, looking into his eyes with a smirk. "I need to take out some trash that's been bothering people."
Alex gave a determined nod, understanding without needing another word. And just like that, Xander vanished without a trace. A moment later, the entire building he targeted was gone, erased as if it had never existed.
Ethan stood there, rubbing his stinging cheek, looking utterly lost. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Opened it again—
SMACK!
"Okay, okay! I deserved that one," he admitted, holding up his hands in surrender. "But technically—"
SMACK!
"I'm just saying—"
SMACK!
Ethan staggered back, blinking in shock. "Babe, listen! If we keep this up, I might start getting actual brain damage! Then who's gonna remember anniversaries? Oh wait—I already forgot last year's one. Okay, bad example!"
She glared, cracking her knuckles. "TWO. YEARS. Ethan. TWO. YEARS. WITHOUT A MESSAGE."
Ethan gulped, holding out his arms in desperation. "But I sent money! You love money!"
She stepped forward menacingly. "Oh? So now I'm just a woman who loves money?"
Ethan immediately panicked, shaking his head like a broken toy. "No, no, no, no! You love me—and money! Both equally! Maybe me just a tiny bit more?"
Her glare intensified.
Ethan sighed dramatically, dropping to his knees. "My love, my queen, my celestial goddess, I was deep undercover, risking my very life for the greater good! Do you know how hard it was? The cold nights? The terrible food? THE NO WI-FI?! I suffered, baby. I suffered."
She folded her arms.
Ethan clutched his heart. "And every night, I whispered your name to the stars! But did they answer? No! They were jealous of your beauty!"
Ben leaned toward Alex. "This man is supposed to be a legendary spy?"
Alex sighed. "At this point, I think he faked his entire résumé."
The woman sighed, shaking her head. "You're an idiot."
Ethan gasped, eyes wide. "An idiot who loves you!"
She rolled her eyes, but a tiny smirk played on her lips.
Ethan clasped his hands together, looking up at her like a lost puppy. "Please. Just one hug. One tiny hug? A pinky hug? A shadow of a hug?"
She took a deep breath, then finally hugged him. Ethan let out an exaggerated gasp. "Oh! This—this is warmth! I've missed this!"
She smacked the back of his head mid-hug. "Don't ever do that again."
Ethan grinned. "Yes, ma'am. Also, since we're hugging… maybe no more slaps?"
SMACK!
At the ice cream shop, the old woman smiled at Alex. "Do you like it?"
Alex took a thoughtful lick of his cone and nodded. "Yeah… but it's a little less sweet than Manna's!"
She chuckled. "Alright, alright, I'll remember that for next time!"
Meanwhile, Ethan and Lilith were lost in their own little world, sharing quiet whispers and stolen glances. John, watching them with a smirk, finally stood up and stretched. "Well, as much as I'd love to stay and watch this rom-com unfold, I think I'll head home. It's getting late."
The old woman checked the time and gasped. "Oh dear, you're right! We'll meet again tomorrow."
John grabbed Alex's hand. "Alright, kid, time to go."
Alex pouted. "Why don't we take Ben with us?"
Before John could answer, the old woman chimed in, "No, Alex. Ben just reunited with his father after a long time. They need time together."
Ben, however, grinned mischievously. "No, no, Grandma, they need time to sort some things out—I should totally go with them!"
Ethan shot Ben a you-traitor look while subtly motioning for him to zip it.
Ben, of course, ignored him. "Papa visits me weekly at school anyway."
Lilith turned to Ethan with a glare so sharp it could cut glass.
Ethan, sweating, quickly changed the subject. "Ben, buddy! You know what's cool? Fist bumps!" He held out his fist, and Ben bumped it happily. "Yeah! Best and coolest dad ever, right?"
Lilith folded her arms. "Mmm-hmm."
John, laughing to himself, ushered the boys into the car. Once they were on the road, he pulled out his phone. "Hello, darling! So, uh… we have a few extra mouths to feed. Make dinner for, let's say… three extra?"
He ended the call and turned to the boys.
"Alright, listen up—official story: We did not get into a fight. We met a few hours ago, and you're just my long-time best friend's sons, visiting for fun. Stick to the script."
Ben and Alex exchanged glances.
Alex smirked. "But why?"
Ben grinned. "Are you planning to lie to your wife, Uncle John?"
John sighed. "You two are dangerous."
As the car stopped, the door opened, a small home with enough space for a small family, no exaggerated luxury. Ben looked at it and said, "Woo Uncle John! You got a peaceful family!"
John, Alex, and Betty stood in front of the door. John took a deep breath and called out, "Honey! I'm home!"
The door swung open, revealing a woman who looked at John like he had just tracked mud all over her clean floors. Her glare could probably set toast on fire.
But then she spotted Alex. Her expression flipped instantly, and she burst into laughter.
"Wow! Who are these cute little gremlins?"
Alex, always ready for introductions, stood proudly. "My name is Alex, and he was my friend Ben!"
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Was?"
Alex blinked. "Oh—I mean, is! He's still alive, I swear!"
She chuckled, scooped up both kids in her arms like they were nothing, and started strutting around the house with them. Eventually, she plopped them onto a bed and clapped her hands.
"Alright, you two! Stay put. I'm making food for you!"
Alex, ever the chatterbox, followed her into the kitchen, talking non-stop. Meanwhile, Ben, a certified couch potato, plopped in front of the TV, completely lost in a cartoon marathon. Before long, Alex passed out on the couch, snoring softly.
After cooking, she woke Alex up, scooped Ben from the TV like a lost puppy, and took both to the dining table. They settled in, ready to eat.
Meanwhile, Ben carried his daughter down the stairs. Her eyes were dark, her face blank, but fear clung to her like a shadow. She gripped her father tightly, as if letting go would mean certain doom.
John, ever the friendly host, pointed at Alex. "Sweetheart, this is my friend's son! Maybe you two can be friends!"
She hesitated, then whispered, "H-hello."
Then—DING DONG!
The doorbell rang.
John sighed. "Who in their right mind rings the doorbell during dinner?"
He got up, walked to the door, and swung it open—then immediately regretted it.
There stood Xander. His shirt was stained red. His collar reeked of something metallic. His whole presence screamed "I made some questionable life choices today."
John's stomach did a backflip. "Xander… what in the fresh hell did you do? And why do you smell like a crime scene?!"
Xander just blinked.
John grabbed him by the collar and yanked him inside, shoving him toward the guest room. Meanwhile, at the dining table, Alex froze mid-chew, eyes locked on Xander like he had just seen an episode of his life flash before his eyes.
Without thinking, Alex jumped to his feet. "Father!"
John didn't even turn around. "Alex, SIT DOWN!"
Alex sat so fast you'd think gravity had doubled. His face looked like a kid who just got caught sneaking cookies.
John sighed, rubbing his temple. "Alex, it's bad manners to stand while eating! Darling, make sure he finishes his food."
Alex looked at John's wife. "Aunt, really!" She nodded and said, "Alex! There are a lot of people dying because they can't eat food! So we need to eat food with respect!"
Ben saw the red stains on Xander's collar. "Hey Uncle Xander! You spilled ketchup on your shirt!"
John's face was in fear and he pushed Xander and said, "See you in 2 minutes!"
He pushed him into the washroom in the guest house. "Just clean yourself! Then wear the clothes I put on the bed!"
After that, walked down to them, sat down on the chair, he took the ready-to-eat. "What happened!!" Alex was chewing the food, Ben was enjoying the food.
Xander walked down from the stairs, John's wife stood and greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Xander! Nice to meet you! I am Ember." Xander went to her and pulled her chair. He said, "Please refrain from the formalities! I want to call you sister! Can I?"
She was in shock. "What! He was looking like King Attique and style! But how simple."
Xander smiled at her and said, "Can I?"
She nodded, "You look like noble family! Your attitudes and style, everything! Even the way you handle women also!"
As she sat down on the chair, Xander went beside Alex and said, "Yes! I am from royal family, I won't deny it. But I didn't learn these from there!"
"My wife always told me, 'Treat people with warmth, and even the coldest hearts will melt.' And it was my wife who made me understand—'A king isn't measured by his power, but by the love he earns from those around him.'"
She was impressed by Xander's answer, and was about to ask. But John said, "Not any more!"
"What happened? There are stain marks on your shirt collar!" she exclaimed.
Xander casually took another bite of his food and replied, "Just wiped out all the drug and mafia gang bases."
Her jaw dropped in shock. "What do you mean?"
Swallowing his food, Xander said, "If I left them alone… they would have destroyed more lives."
She looked confused. "Really?"
"Oh, you should've seen it," Xander continued. "I found a massive base—dark worshippers chanting, trying to kill children. I interrogated them… and then I killed them."
Ember lowered her head slightly. "Good job… for making it back. But…"
Alex, sitting nearby, spoke up. "Isn't giving them another chance better?"
Xander turned to him, his eyes sharp. "Alex, remember this—people who truly regret their actions can have a second chance. But those who love what they do in evil? They only bring more death. And all you're left with is the blood of your loved ones!"
Xander carried Alex and Ben to the guest room, settling them onto the bed. Without a word, he lay down between them. Alex curled up against Xander's chest, his small breaths slowing as sleep took over, safe and warm in the presence of his protector.