Chapter 609


    Karen chuckled softly, squeezing Vivienne''s hand before pushing open the grand oak gate of the Perez


    Mansion.


    As the door swung open, Karen''s gaze fell upon an elderly figure leaning on a cane, d in a smart


    tweed suit reminiscent of a bygone era. Tears brimmed in his eyes as he stood there, looking out as if


    in disbelief.


    With the door now ajar, he stumbled forward a couple of steps, his body trembling, pausing as if unsure


    whether to believe this was all real.


    It had been over thirty years. His little treasure, who had barely reached his waistline back then, was


    now a mother herself.


    Karen stepped forward, stopping a yard away from Jasper, feeling the gulf of years between them - not


    a chasm of estrangement, but one of deep regret.


    Thankfully, all was not lost; she had returned.


    With a thud, Karen knelt on the ground, bowing her head deeply before Jasper.


    "Dad, Sasha''se back."


    Jasper could no longer contain himself. He hurried forward, his cane discarded, hunching over as he


    helped his daughter to her feet.


    Slowly, his wrinkled hands reached out, caressing Karen''s face gently as if afraid of inflicting any pain


    upon his cherished daughter.


    Every contour of her face, every familiar line and curve, he touched as if reacquainting himself with a


    long-lost treasure.


    "Sasha, my Sasha, oh, my Sasha..."


    With a choked sob, Jasper pulled Karen into a tight embrace. "My precious girl."


    Meanwhile, Zelda had already sought refuge in Yuri''s arms, sobbing uncontrobly, and even the


    usually nonchnt Maddox was crouched on the ground, wiping away tears.


    Vivienne stood at the threshold, unwilling to intrude on the heartfelt reunion.


    Jasper and Karen held each other for what seemed like an eternity before they finallyposed


    themselves.


    Karen, ever theforter, gently reminded Jasper, "Dad, tomorrow is the ninth of the month. Let''s go


    inside. And remember, no leaving the house tomorrow."


    Jasper''s mind clicked - it dawned on him that Vesper, who had once saved him, was actually Sasha!


    "You little rascal, why didn’t you reveal yourself sooner? You''ve been through so much hardship. Do


    you have any idea how worried I was when I saw the explosion on that cliff?"


    Jasper and his family had watched the ordeal unfold through "Zelda''s" robotic surrogate via a live feed.


    When Diana had raised a stone to Vivienne, Jasper had nearly rallied a posse to storm over, but


    Maddox and Yuri had managed to restrain him just in time.


    The cliff side explosion had nearly sent him through the screen, but a timely signal from Percival had


    assured him of their safety and calmed his nerves.


    Vivienne, trailing behind, tried to remain silent.


    But how could Jasper let her off the hook?


    "And you, youngdy, you''re no less of a worry! Always giving your grandfather gray hairs!"


    Vivienne cracked a smile. "Grandpa, me my mom. She''s been ''dead'' for so many years. If I hadn’t


    given her this little scare today, she''d still be in hiding!"


    "Cheeky girl, no wonder your master always speaks ill of you!" Karen shot back, though her eyes were


    devoid of any real reproach.


    Speaking of Finnian, Jasper suddenly remembered. "Sasha, how on earth did you end up with that old


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    madman?"


    Karen helped Jasper to a chair and began to recount her tale.


    "I don''t quite remember the details, but when I came to, I was with another family. I met Finnian during


    school. He said I had a unique talent and wanted to take me on as an apprentice. I went along with it


    for fun and never officially took the pledge. Eventually, I joined Vanguard Agency and got involved with


    more advanced work, and my thoughts kept drifting to bionics and synthetics, and here we are."


    Jasper nodded in understanding. "No wonder you sent Vivienne to Emerald Mountain. You were


    leaving her in your master''s care as a yful bargain."


    Karen waved dismissively. "Not quite. He insisted I bring a bottle of whiskey as a token of


    apprenticeship. I was too stingy, so I promised him my future child instead. Had no choice!"


    Vivienne finally caught on. No wonder Finnian always joked about her being a lousy deal – she was


    traded for a bottle of whiskey!


    Maddox could not help butugh. "Niece, you''re not even worth a bottle of whiskey! Come and stay


    with your uncle. Your mom isn''t reliable at all!"


    Vivienne didn''t take offense. Instead, she narrowed her eyes at Maddox, replying, "Uncle Maddox, my


    mom has been with Aunt Wi, you know."


    Maddox''sughter stopped abruptly as if he had bitten his tongue. He quickly sidled up to Karen, the


    traces of tears still visible at the corners of his eyes, his voice tinged with concern.


    "Sasha, were you really with Wi? How is she? Is she eating well? Has she lost weight? Is she


    sleeping okay? Does she dress warmly? Has she been hurt?"


    The barrage of questions took Karen aback. Though she had been with Wi all this time, Wi never


    once mentioned Maddox.


    She didn''t realize how deep the connection between her brother and Wi was.


    Karen nced at Vivienne, who silently nodded her confirmation.


    “Yes, Mom, it''s as you suspect – your brother is hopelessly in love.”


    Maddox felt a chill run down his spine and turned to Vivienne, insisting. "It''s true love!"


    Yuri rolled his eyes in disgust, pushing Maddox aside and moving closer to Karen. "Sasha, Maddox has


    been pining over Wi for over a decade. He''s beyond help."


    Karen clicked her tongue. "Maddox, did you scare Wi away? Is that why she left?"


    Jasper nodded sagely. "That sounds about right."


    Maddox was quick to defend himself. "No way! It was Diana who..."


    Even if the entire Perez family harbored animosity towards Diana, Jasper was her steadfast protector,


    ensuring she never suffered a moment''s distress.


    Anyone who dared to mock Diana for being adopted would find Jasper on their doorstep, ready to


    confront them.


    Truth be told, before Maddox discovered that Diana might have tampered with Vivienne''s paternity test,


    he had not particrly disliked her either.


    Whenever Diana faced bullying, her four brothers would rally around her, a united front.


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    A heavy silence fell over the group, and Yuri shot Maddox an annoyed look for his bbering.


    Maddox, in a moment of urgency, had simply forgotten to filter his words given the circumstances.


    It was then that Vivienne chimed in, "I''m starving."


    Vivienne chuckled. "Then I guess I''ll be counting on Grandpa and Uncles to feed me from now on."


    "Ha! That''s the spirit! I will take care of you!" Jasper beamed at Vivienne and Karen; his spirits lifted


    considerably.


    And so, the subject of Diana was tactfully set aside, leaving behind only the warmth of family harmony.