Chapter 82-83 - Adopted into a Modern Family

Chapter 82 – Grant's Return

The black SUV glided smoothly down the tree-lined street as Grant gazed out the window, recognizing every corner of the neighborhood where he grew up. It was strange how everything seemed exactly the same, yet so different. After intense weeks in the Middle East, seeing the houses lined up, the well-kept gardens, and even the children playing on the sidewalk seemed surreal.

The driver stopped in front of Mitchell and Cam's house. The beige facade, the immaculate lawn, and the traditional wreath on the door indicated that nothing had changed. Except for the fact that, as soon as Grant opened the car door, he heard a shout coming from inside the house.

"HE'S HERE!"

The front door practically burst open, and in a matter of seconds, Cam and Mitchell were on the porch, looking at him with expressions of pure relief and emotion.

"Oh my God, Grant!" Mitchell ran down the steps and hugged him tightly.

Cam, right behind them, did the same, almost crushing them both with his tight hug.

"You're all right! Thank God!"

Grant laughed, trying not to be crushed between the two.

"Calm down, calm down, I'm fine."

Cam stepped back and cupped Grant's face in his hands.

"We saw everything on TV! The shooting, the reports, the interviews! Mitchell was a disaster, and I... well, I almost fainted!"

Mitchell rolled his eyes.

"You didn't faint, but you fell onto the couch when you saw the videos."

"Details." Cam waved his hand, still looking Grant up and down.

"Come on, everyone's waiting for you inside!"

They pulled him inside the house, and as soon as Grant crossed the threshold, a chorus of voices erupted.

"GRANT!"

The living room was full. Claire, Phil, Hailey, Alex, Jay, Gloria, Manny, Luke, and even little Lily were there, waiting for him. Claire was the first to reach him, enveloping him in a tight hug.

"You scared me so much, you idiot!"

"It's good to see you too, Aunt Claire." Grant laughed.

Phil soon appeared beside her, smiling.

"Dude, I think you officially have the most dangerous job in the family. And I've already fallen off a roof three times."

Hailey and Alex came next, clearly excited.

"Seriously, Grant," Hailey said, crossing her arms, "You could at least let us know before you went around killing terrorists on TV!"

Alex nodded.

"At least this time we knew you were alive before seeing it all on the news."

Grant smiled.

"I tried to let you know, but you know how fast these things happen."

Jay, who had been quiet until then, finally approached, his gaze steady and typical.

"You did a good job there, kid."

Grant knew that, coming from Jay, this meant a lot. He nodded and shook his grandfather's hand.

"Thanks, Jay."

Gloria, however, couldn't hold back. She pulled him into a tight hug and then cupped his face as if he were a little boy.

"You gave me a huge scare, Grant! But I saw how you took care of those girls. You were amazing."

Manny, who was beside his mother, smiled.

"I swear I never imagined I'd have a cousin who literally appeared in a shootout on international TV. You're kind of a legend now."

Lily, Grant's little sister, approached holding a drawing in her hand. She looked at him with shining eyes.

"I made this for you!"

Grant picked up the paper and saw a colorful drawing of him on a plane, with Gigi and Bella beside him, holding signs that read "Thank you, Grant!"

He smiled and bent down to hug her.

"I loved it, Lily. I'll keep it forever."

She laughed and jumped to hug him again.

After the hugs, questions, and jokes, everyone gathered in the dining room. Cam and Mitchell had prepared a feast to celebrate Grant's return, and he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest seeing the lavish table and the family gathered.

While everyone served themselves, Jay raised his glass.

"To Grant, who always manages to give us a scare, but who always comes back in one piece."

"And armed," Alex murmured, making Hailey laugh.

Everyone toasted and began to eat. Grant finally felt he could relax. He knew that soon he would have more contracts, more missions, more dangers, but at that moment, none of that mattered.

He was home.

Chapter 83 – The Press Conference

The hotel conference room in Los Angeles was packed. Reporters from all the major news networks, cameras, microphones, and flashes filled the room. The buzz was incessant everyone wanted details of what had happened in Gaza. The story was already one of the most talked-about subjects globally, and Gigi and Bella Hadid's presence at the press conference only increased the media attention.

A large table was set up on the stage, where the key figures involved in the humanitarian mission and the incident with the Hamas militants would sit. In the center was Grant Tucker-Pritchett, dressed in an impeccable black suit, his face serious and professional. Beside him were Gigi and Bella Hadid, elegantly dressed, but with tense expressions. To Grant's left was a representative from Sentinel, the private security company, and to his right, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department.

The press conference would begin shortly.

Opening of the Press Conference

The State Department spokesperson adjusted his microphone and looked at the audience.

"Good afternoon. We are here today to clarify the events that occurred during the recent humanitarian mission conducted by Gigi and Bella Hadid in the Gaza Strip. As many of you know, there was an incident involving an armed group, which resulted in the neutralization of the threat by the security team. Our goal today is to ensure that everyone understands the facts and that there is no misinformation about what happened."

He paused, observing the cameras focused on him.

"We will have statements from the key people involved and then we will open it up for questions."

He gestured to Grant.

"I now give the floor to Grant Tucker-Pritchett, head of security for the Hadid sisters on this mission."

Grant adjusted his microphone and looked directly at the journalists. His voice was firm and confident, as if he were delivering a military report.

"Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Grant Tucker-Pritchett, and I was responsible for the security of Gigi and Bella Hadid during their humanitarian mission in Gaza. My objective was to ensure their physical safety and that of the team while they distributed supplies to families in need."

He took a deep breath before continuing.

"From the beginning of the mission, we closely monitored any potential threats. During our return trip to Cairo, we identified vehicles following us. After a brief analysis of the situation, we determined that the threat was real. The vehicles belonged to Hamas members, and our security team quickly coordinated an ambush to neutralize any kidnapping attempt."

Reporters frantically took notes, and some hands were already going up for questions, but Grant hadn't finished.

"We know what happens to hostages in situations like this. Gigi and Bella were in real danger. The decision to act was not made rashly, but based on a professional risk assessment. After the confrontation, we confirmed that all targets eliminated were armed combatants. No civilians were injured during the operation."

He looked at the models beside him before continuing.

"Sentinel and other responsible agencies are cooperating with the authorities to ensure that all actions taken were within international security protocols. Our priority has always been and always will be the protection of our clients."

He then gestured to Gigi and Bella, giving them space to share their experience.

Gigi took the microphone first. Her expression was serious, but determined.

"We went to Gaza with a single purpose: to help. We wanted to provide food, water, clothing, and hygiene items to the people who needed it most. Throughout our stay, we were extremely grateful for the support of the NGOs and volunteers on the ground."

She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

"But we also need to be realistic about the situation there. It's dangerous. When we realized we were being followed by armed men, we knew things could go very wrong. And if it weren't for Grant and the security team, we might be telling a very different story today."

Bella then took the floor.

"It was one of the scariest moments of my life. We trusted Grant and the team, and they kept us safe. Seeing the level of professionalism and calm they maintained under pressure is something I will never forget."

She looked directly at Grant.

"You saved our lives, and we will never forget that."

Grant nodded in gratitude, maintaining his professional demeanor.

A Statement from Sentinel and the State Department

The Sentinel representative then took the floor.

— "Sentinel is an internationally recognized private security company, and all of our operators are highly trained ex-military personnel. We follow strict security and ethical protocols. What happened in Gaza was an example of the need for professionals prepared to deal with real threats in conflict zones."

He looked at the journalists.

"I want to make it clear that Grant and his team acted strictly within the law and the necessity of the situation. There was no excessive use of force, and all procedures were followed according to international standards for private security."

The State Department spokesperson then intervened.

"From a diplomatic standpoint, we want to reiterate that Grant and his team were NOT in Gaza under any official mission of the United States government. They were there exclusively in the service of the Hadid models, and their actions were autonomous. However, we assure you that all investigations conducted so far show that there was no violation of international treaties or local laws."

He then opened the floor for questions.

The Journalists' Questions

The first reporter raised his hand.

"Grant, you had to make life-or-death decisions at that moment. Do you feel you did the right thing?"

Grant looked directly at the journalist.

"Absolutely." My job is to ensure the safety of the people under my protection. Given the threat we faced, any hesitation could have cost lives. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it exactly the same way."

Another reporter interjected.

"Gigi and Bella, has this experience changed how you view activism in conflict zones?"

Gigi nodded.

"Absolutely. We still want to continue helping, but we know we need to be better prepared. We will continue working with NGOs and supporting people in need, but now we better understand the risks involved."

A third journalist addressed the State Department spokesperson.

"Is there any concern that this incident could affect U.S. diplomatic relations with Israel or Palestinian groups?"

The spokesperson responded cautiously.

"At this time, we have no indication that this event will have significant diplomatic repercussions." However, we are monitoring the situation closely."

The press conference continued for a few more minutes, with detailed questions and answers. At the end, the State Department spokesperson gave the closing remarks.

"Thank you all for coming. We hope this press conference has clarified the facts and reinforced our commitment to transparency."

Grant, Gigi, Bella, and the others stood up and began to leave the stage, while the camera flashes continued to go off.

Leaving the room, Gigi touched Grant's shoulder.

"Thank you for everything, Grant. Really."

He smiled slightly.

"It was a pleasure protecting you. I just hope next time the mission is a little less intense."

Bella laughed.

"We'll make sure of that."

They then exited through the side door, leaving behind a sea of journalists still discussing everything they had just heard.

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Chapter 42 - Chapter 82-83