Anthea sent back a cheerful "Merry Christmas!" and, getting into the festive spirit, shot over a virtual


    gift—a digital cash gift, tagged with the note: "A small Christmas gift."


    Sherman stared at his phone, a little taken aback.


    He''d grown quite a bit since thest time he’d received Christmas gifts from anyone other than his


    parents or rtives.


    And speaking of which, he hadn''t gotten any since he turned eighteen.


    He tapped to ept the gift.


    It wasn''t a lot—just $20.


    Sherman chuckled and sent a Christmas'' gift in return, "As the saying goes, one good turn deserves


    another."


    Anthea opened her gift to find $120—a hundred more than she’d sent.


    A sly smile yed on her lips. For all the talk of the stinginess of the wealthy, it seemed Sherman


    was an exception.


    "Thanks, boss man ," she texted back.


    "Don''t mention it. What’s Ms. Yeager up to?" Sherman typed.


    "Lighting fireworks ," replied Anthea, attaching a video she’d just taken.


    Her surroundings were bursting with excitement.


    Sherman nced at his stark office desk and walked over to the window.


    In Capital City, fireworks were banned.


    Christmas Eve was unusually quiet here, hardly any different from any other night.


    Sherman snapped a photo and sent it over.


    "You in Capital City?"


    "Yeah. Heading back day after tomorrow." As soon as Sherman hit send, he froze. Why was he


    reporting his travel ns to Anthea?


    "Safe travels."


    "Thanks."


    After her firework disy, Anthea went home and started her live stream.


    No sooner had she begun than she received a challenge from LeisureHermit for a virtual duel.


    She raised an eyebrow. LeisureHermit was persistent, challenging her time and again despite


    numerous losses.


    Elsewhere, Gerard and his friends arrived at their chosen spot for setting off fireworks.


    The fourds had brought a generous stash.


    "Merry Christmas, Gerard!"


    "Merry Christmas, guys."


    They lit the fireworks and settled down to chat.


    Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    "So, Gerard, now that you''re sure your mom''s in Cloudcrest, what''s your n?" Healy asked.


    The other two turned to Gerard, curious.


    "I''m going to find her."


    "Alone?" George chimed in.


    Gerard nodded.


    "But Cloudcrest is thousands of miles away from here! Plus, it''s a huge ce. Where will you even


    start?"


    It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.


    "I''ve done my research. Cloudcrest is a direct-controlled municipality with twenty districts. The


    central area has ten, with a poption of 31.26 million, including 12 million non-residents. I''ll


    search, bit by bit. If I don''t find her this year, or the next, I''ll keep looking the year after and the years


    following, until I do."


    The longing of a child who''d never known his mother was something perhaps others couldn''t fully


    grasp.


    But one thing was certain: he would never give up the search until he found her.


    The others stared at Gerard in surprise.


    "But what if she''s moved on, remarried, and forgotten about you?" Healy prodded.


    Eighteen years is a long time. Anything could have happened.


    "I''ll just take a look from afar, and not disturb her."


    Just a nce. Even if he said nothing at all.


    "And what if she''s already left Cloudcrest?"


    Gerard paused, clearly not having considered this.


    After a moment, he said, "Then, I guess that''s just my fate. But until I go to Cloudcrest, I refuse to


    ept it."


    "Gerard," Healy pped him on the shoulder, "I believe you''ll find your mom."


    "I believe it too!" George added.


    "Count me in!" Kearney jumped in. "Actually, I have a rtive in Cloudcrest. I can ask her to keep


    an ear out for any news about your mom. Do you have any other info about her? Like what she


    looks like, any distinguishing features?"