Elsewhere
The car came to a smooth halt in front of the hotel.
The woman stepped out without hesitation and walked straight inside. She didn't look around. Didn't pause. Didn't breathe wrong.
The elevator doors slid open at the sixth floor. She stepped out, heels echoing softly in the empty corridor, and stopped in front of her room. The door clicked shut behind her.
Locked.
The baby in her arms was sleeping peacefully.
For a brief second… her cold expression softened. A faint smile curved on her lips as she gently placed him on the bed and brushed her fingers through his hair.
Then her face hardened.
She took out her phone and dialed a number.
The call connected.
"How is Shadow's condition?" she asked calmly.
But beneath that calm… there was bloodlust.
"He's stable. But…" the voice on the other end hesitated.
Her eyes sharpened. "But what?"
"The doctor says too much mental stress could destroy his mind. If he goes through that again… he might regress. Like a child. He may forget how to speak. How to function."
Silence filled the room.
"Transfer him to headquarters," she ordered coldly.
"Yes, ma'am."
The call ended.
She immediately dialed another number.
It rang longer this time.
"Ah, my daughter. How are you? I tried calling when you arrived, but your phone was off. I assumed you were resting. How was the wedding? Was everything—"
"Father," she cut in flatly. "Don't act."
Silence.
"I want to speak to my real father. Not the one pretending nothing happened. And I have questions."
A pause.
"Speak," his voice returned—normal now.
"Former member Xentan. Code name: Lion. He's after us. Not alone. Ava and Liora were there too. Acting strange. I saw all of them at the wedding."
"Xentan?" He scoffed. "They can't touch us. Eclipse is stronger than ever. Not Xentan. Not Ava. Not Liora."
She stared at the sleeping baby.
"I also saw Spector."
A sharp pause.
"…Spector?"
"Yes. These days, he goes by Jake Jacobs."
"…So Bruce Warren really buried his name." The man exhaled slowly. "Something must have forced him to change identities."
"What should we do?" she asked quietly.
"Bruce… Jake… I once wanted him as my successor."
There was regret in his voice.
"After losing to him… that incident happened. I couldn't save Eclipse. We survived only because of the Foster Organization."
Her grip tightened around the phone.
"Father… what really happened? What broke you? I know it wasn't Bruce. You were fine after losing to him."
A long silence.
"That is the past. For now, explore the world. I will handle Eclipse."
"You're not well. You need rest."
"I am perfectly fine," he said firmly. "From now on, I command Eclipse."
The call ended.
She lowered the phone slowly.
"When did everything start falling apart?" she whispered.
But she already knew the answer.
"When he left Eclipse."
Meanwhile
A soft flash.
Ron appeared inside his living room.
He turned.
Dream was sitting on the couch, holding Ines in her arms.
The moment he saw them, something inside him settled.
Peace.
His lips curved into a natural smile.
"Welcome home," Dream said gently.
Ines giggled the moment she saw him.
Ron forgot everything — the tension, the danger, the weight of the world.
He rushed forward and wrapped both of them in his arms.
"Is everything alright?" Dream asked softly.
"Yes," he said, smiling. "Everything's fine. How were you two?"
He lifted Ines into his arms.
She giggled again.
"How were you, princess? Did you miss Papa?"
"Pa… pa…" Ines said proudly.
Ron's smile brightened instantly.
"Ma… ma…" she tried, pointing at Dream.
Ron laughed softly. "Looks like she recognizes us now."
Dream nodded. "While you were gone, she kept saying 'Papa' every day."
Ron held her closer.
For a moment… the world didn't exist.
Outside — Near Ron's House
Carter and Lia walked quietly along the street.
They had mostly recovered.
But not completely.
Carter was deep in thought.
Lia nudged his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
"What if something like that happens again?" Carter said.
Lia looked down. "I'm sorry."
"You were being controlled," he replied calmly.
"But because of me, you almost died. You didn't even fight back."
"Let it go. You weren't at fault."
They sat down on a park bench.
After a moment, Carter spoke again.
"What did you see inside Louis's mind?"
Lia's expression darkened.
"His past. His abusive family. And how your grandfather took him in."
Carter listened quietly.
When she finished, he sighed.
"Louis was close to my father. They grew up together."
"Did something happen between them?"
"You saw it, didn't you?"
Lia nodded sadly.
She hesitated before asking, "Why do good people suffer?"
Carter looked up at the sky.
"Everyone suffers. No one is lucky forever. Life gives both light and darkness."
"Then what do we do?"
"Sometimes… we just endure."
She looked at him carefully. "You can tell me."
Carter smiled faintly.
"My relationship with my father… was never good."
"What happened?"
"I looked up to him. I wanted to be like him. But one day… he walked out the door and never came back."
Lia stayed silent.
Carter gave a bitter smile. "Funny, right? A grown man still hurt by something like that."
"That's not small," Lia said firmly. "He was your father."
Her voice trembled.
"And I miss mine too."
"Your parents are alive," Carter said gently.
"They're not my biological parents."
Carter blinked.
"I've never seen my real parents," she whispered. "Sometimes… when I see children with their families… I feel jealous."
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Without hesitation, Carter pulled her into his arms.
"I'm here," he said quietly. "And I'll stay."
The night grew still around them.
Both were lifelines were each other.
Neither of them felt alone, in each other's presence. "The world feels beautiful with you." Carter said.
"My life feels complete with you." Lia said.