?


    As Isabe questioned her mother, Viona just looked at her and shrugged.


    "If you don''t want him, I''ll dly take him."


    "Hey! I never said that!" Isabe argued.


    Vionaughed softly and then shook her head. She wasn''t nning on having Alex to herself anyway.


    "All this aside, have you found any clues as to who might''ve done this, mom?" Isabe asked.


    Viona''s expression turned grave. "Even after going to great lengths, we weren''t able to find the culprits."


    Isabe was shocked. "You''re saying… a top ranked Blessed wasn''t able to find a few criminals?"


    Viona shook her head. "They''re too good at hiding, it appears. I took help from some other Blesseds who specialize in search and rescue, it was all for naught."


    Isabe stared at her mother with visible surprise. "Even Blesseds couldn''t— Ah… we are a family of Blesseds."


    It clicked Isabe now.


    Viona nodded her head.


    "We are a family of Blesseds…" Isabe repeated her words. "Did you offend someone, mom? Or is it my father''s doing?"


    Viona sighed. "I do not know. Also, stop thinking it''s your father every time we are in trouble."


    Isabe knitted her brows. "But isn''t that man the source of all our troubles for the most part?"


    "He''s your father, Isa. Talk with some respect."


    Isabe spit at the side. "Respect? After all the things he did?"


    Hearing that, Viona was saddened. She took a step towards Isabe and gently holding her face, said:


    "Isa… whatever happened in the past, it was between me and him. Not you and him. He may have been a bad husband, but he wasn''t or is not a bad father. He still loves you—"


    "Bullshit!" Isabe pped Viona''s hand and turned to face away.


    "Listen to me, Isa." Viona made Isabe look at her.


    Staring into her eyes, she said, "If… If there there everes a day where something happens to me, he—"


    "MOM!" Isabe shouted.


    Grabbing onto Viona''s shoulders, she said sternly, "I don''t care what you say to me, but never, never say those words!"


    Viona took a deep breath as the realization of what she just said dawned on her. The weight of her words may have been too much for Isabe to carry, but what she was saying was the truth.


    Before, she had never thought that she had enemies, but with Isabe''s condition, it was confirmed that she did.


    She had to break it to her some or the other day and Viona didn''t want to dy things as she didn''t know if she would be alive the next day.


    Taking a deep breath again, Viona said, "Isa, listen to what I say for the next ten minutes."


    Isabe didn''t want to listen, but the seriousness of her mother''s words didn''t let her interrupt.


    She was helpless at this moment and could do nothing but nod lightly.


    "I have enemies. I do not know who they are, but I am certain I do. Our lives are at risk and thus, I want you to stay with him from here on."


    "But—"


    "Let me finish, Isa." Viona didn''t let her interrupt.


    Holding Isabe''s face with both her hands gently, Viona continued, "your father is the Guardian. You''ll be well protected in his care. Even if you don''t want to go, you have to. We may not be on good terms anymore, but he has always loved you. It''s because he has you, he never tried to have another kid even after separating with me."


    "If it gets to him that you had such a huge ident, he''ll turn the world upside-down. I''ll try to get onto the roots of this matter, until then, stay safe with him."


    Isabe''s eyes moistened up and her throat turned heavy. "But… What about you, mom? Who''ll ensure your safety?"


    Viona smiled in response and answered softly, "my dear… mumma is ranked 82nd. Do you think something will happen to her?"


    Isabe, with tears dropping down her eyes, answered, "mom… there''s Evil Blesseds… and 81 more people above you…"


    Viona smiled helplessly. She couldn''t say anything much in this matter and thus kept quiet.


    Isabe started crying while Vionaforted her.


    A few minutes passed.


    When Viona felt Isabe had calmed down, she wiped the tears off her face and said, "I''ll do my best to fix this and return back as soon as possible. Until then, take care of yourself, okay?"


    Isabe nodded her head. "You too."


    Viona smiled and hugged Isabe, not knowing when would be the next time she would meet her daughter.


    ***


    Austin, Texas.


    Ding!


    Alex rang the doorbell of his house.


    With a clicking sound the door opened up and he saw his mother''s face.


    "Wee back." J said with a smile.


    Her gaze then fell on the two big bags Alex was carrying.


    Noticing his mother''s gaze, Alex lifted the bags and handed it to her.


    "I bought some stuff home from New York. Hopefully dinner isn''t ready yet." Alex said and then started walking inside.


    "What!?" J was surprised. Turning around and looking at Alex''s back, she asked, "these are from New York? How? That''s almost a thousand miles away!"


    Alex chuckled and waving his hand, said, "I flew home, mom. It isn''t something surprising. I''m gonna go freshen up, you can ask me more questionster."


    Alex went upstairs and then into his room, not giving J any more room for talks.


    J was dumbfounded and looking down at the bags, saw a variety of food.


    "This boy…" She was really amused knowing he went to New York and then came back, all within twelve hours.


    As Alex reached his room and walked inside, it was sad to know that neither Melissa nor Nix was here.


    They were probably down in the kitchen helping with the cooking, and it was a pity that the ns Alex had of wanting to drag them into the shower were cancelled.


    Showering alone and wearing loose shorts and a t-shirt, Alex went down to the dining table.


    "Alex!" Josh said as he saw his son. "Come here, buddy. Tell us the tale of this delicious hot dog you brought from New York."


    "This Deli sandwich too." David added, pointing at the sandwich he was eating.


    Alex smiled and taking his seat, was about to answer when J chimed in and said, "if you were nning to bring food to dinner, why did you get so many snack options? You could''ve brought home some steak or lobster rolls, you know?"


    I at J''s side nodded her head. "There''s also good baked ziti and cannoli avable in New York."


    "Mhm~, honey, you could''ve bought a few more slices of this pizza." Melissa, her mouth stuffed with the famous New York style pizza.


    "More bagels!" Nix added.


    "Hahaha! Seems like a few snacks weren''t enough." Josh said.


    Alex smiled and nodded his head. "Next time, I''ll ask before buying."


    Josh and David nodded their heads while J asked, "tell us, sweetie, what made you go there so urgently?"


    Forking some pasta and eating it, Alex began recounting the busy day he had.


    He told everyone that there was an urgent need for him and the patient''s family, being really rich, sent a private jet.


    He was there in New York in just three hours, the treatment took a couple of more hours, and then was back home in another three hours.


    "Wow. Sounds like a super busy day." Jmented.


    "Cool too!" Josh added. "Imagine being flown to and fro a city in a private jet, hahaha!"


    Davidughed with Josh on that while thedies wondered what''s so funny in this.


    With heartyughs and light chat over food, the dinner came to an end.


    It was a peaceful evening with family and Alex felt really rxed.


    Clink!


    Putting her cutlery down, Nix looked at her parents and said, "Ma, Pa, there''s something I need to tell you."


    Alex''s rxed smile suddenly froze up. His body tensed up as well and he immediately turned to look at Nix.


    What was she doing!? He wasn''t ready at all!


    Alex could definitely guess that Nix was probably trying to tell her parents about them and Alex wasn''t prepared by any means!


    ''She could''ve at least warned me!'' Thought Alex while looking at her.


    Nix smirked, thoroughly enjoying her husband''s chaotic emotions.


    "What is it, Nixie?" David asked.


    Putting her attention away from Alex, she said with a smile, "Pa, we don''t have to worry about visas or anything and can stay here as long as we want. Your work can also be done from home and Ma also likes it here in Texas. Why not stay a bit longer?"


    I, looking at Nix, shook her head. "Sweetie, we cannot bother J''s family like this."


    "Hey! Since when did this be a bother to us?" J protested.


    I chuckled and didn''tment on it, but she believed her point was conveyed to her daughter.


    In their conversation, Alex heaved a big sigh of relief. Thankfully, Nix hadn''t dropped a bombshell right now.


    Ignoring Alex''s emotions, Nix smiled and said, "I knew you would say something like this. That''s why… I made arrangements for us."


    "What?" I was confused.


    Nix smirked and took out a pair of keys from her pockets.


    "Ta-da!"