"Chief George really doesn't know Gwen's identity?"
Swinging through the city streets, Cindy Moon—Silk—rode her web line gracefully past Jessica and Gwen. Her curious voice carried in the wind. "Why is Chief George always scolding Jessica, but never Gwen?"
After Cindy's spider-sense kept tingling around Gwen, the truth eventually came out. Gwen had confessed her identity rather than keep dodging the suspicion. After all, when someone else has that uncanny sixth sense, it's almost impossible to hide the truth.
"Yeah, Gwen's still keeping it a secret from her dad, hehe~" Jessica's boots glowed faint silver as she twisted mid-air in a playful spin. She teased, "The perfect daughter who doesn't dare face the police chief—Ghost-Spider~"
"Jessica!" Gwen's face heated under her mask. With a flick of her wrist, she shot a web that splattered over Jessica's mask. "I'm tying you up tonight and letting your brother deal with you!"
[Warning: View Obstructed]
Inside Jessica's suit, a calm mechanical female voice chimed in: [Activating airflow sensors to assist flight. Please clear the obstruction immediately.]
This wasn't Stark's J.A.R.V.I.S.—Jessica's suit came with its own fully independent AI, codenamed British Cavalry. Gwen's Ghost-Spider suit also had its own AI, codenamed Ghost.
"Hey—hey!" Jessica wobbled in the air for a moment before regaining her balance. She peeled the sticky webbing off her mask and shot back, "You're getting worse, Gwen! I should be the one holding you down so my brother can have some fun!"
If Jack Kadere had been there, he'd probably give both of them a thumbs-up with a grin. What a great sister. What a great girlfriend.
Unfortunately… he was elsewhere at the moment.
Busy.
With other girls—
Tutoring ↑
Life philosophy.
Popularization ↑
Physiology lessons…
In Felicia Hardy's apartment, silver hair spilled over her bare back like liquid silk, the strands blending into the snowy white of her skin.
Her smooth arms were wrapped lazily around Jack Kadere's neck as she lay in his embrace, sleeping soundly.
In that peaceful moment, Felicia had forgotten all her troubles. In her dreams, her debts were gone, her father's sentence reduced, and she was living happily ever after with the man she loved—a fairytale as pure as winter snow.
Beep—
Her phone buzzed.
"Mmm…"
Felicia stirred, opening her tired, beautiful eyes just a sliver.
Rustle…
Jack shifted, sliding an arm around her slender waist before reaching for the phone on the pillow. He answered without moving her from his chest.
"Hello—oh, Chief George."
Once he realized who it was, Jack's voice turned polite. "Busy at work lately? Those new recruits at the precinct giving you a hard time?"
George chuckled on the other end. "Hah! You're so young, but you talk like an old man."
"But still, for someone your age, you've accomplished a lot. That's something to be proud of."
Then his tone shifted. "Ah, about your sister…"
As he sat at his desk shuffling through paperwork, George's voice grew exasperated. "Jessica's too reckless about this superhero business. I've told her over and over, but she just doesn't listen!"
Jack sighed internally. You really never give up trying to reform Jessica…
Still, he used his usual method to appease George. "I'll talk to her. Don't worry, I'll make sure she understands."
Nearby, Felicia Hardy—lounging on the bed—overheard the conversation. Her brows furrowed in thought. "…Captain George… I feel like I know him from somewhere…"
Gwen Stacy's relationship with Jack wasn't public knowledge, so Felicia didn't realize the personal connection between them.
Then another thought struck her. "…I have the money now… maybe I can ask the Captain…"
Her body still weak from earlier exertions, Felicia leaned toward Jack with a soft, almost teasing hum. "Mmm… Ning~"
She craned her neck toward the phone, her voice quiet but urgent. "Captain George… I know it's rude to interrupt your talk with Jack, but I can't wait any longer… I have the money now… about my dad—"
"Hmm? What was that?" George's tone sharpened at the unexpected female voice.
Felicia hesitated, but repeated herself more clearly. "I've raised the money… how much could Dad's sentence be reduced?"
George, however, latched onto something else entirely. "Felicia? Why are you with Jack? And… why do you sound so weak?"
Felicia froze, glancing toward Jack, unsure what to say. He simply smiled at her, his calm gaze silently telling her just roll with it.
So, she improvised. "It's like this… Captain, didn't you tell me to come find Jessica about joining the band? She wasn't home, so I—" she paused, groping for an excuse—"—the reason my voice sounds like this is because… he was testing my singing voice… to see if I could perform."
Jack smoothly took over the conversation, his voice steady and convincing. "That's right, Captain. I know the whole story. Felicia's a good kid. She's trying to raise money for her father by joining the band, and she wanted to prove her singing skills. She overstrained her voice a bit, so she can't talk too loudly right now."
His eyes met Felicia's for a moment—there was sincerity there as he added, "But… I have to say, her voice is truly beautiful. Moving, even."