I casually waved a hand, shaking my head slightly.
"Not really. It's just enough for us to get by without worrying about anything."
But even as I said it, none of them looked convinced.
Instead, the one sitting next to me patted my back.
"Come on, no need to be all humble. We all know it's big."
"We've seen you and your wife on TV. And online too. The hidden owners of Kithia Corp."
The rest of my cousins froze.
Even Leah went still, her hand hovering over the snacks on the table.
"Wait…" my female cousin, Ashley, spoke up. "Kyle and his wife… what was her name again?"
"Anathasia?" someone answered.
Ashley nodded slowly.
"So you two are the owners of that clothing brand? The one with those high-quality shirts… the ones even celebrities buy?"
"…The clothing line's just one part of what the company does," I replied, forcing a small smile.
They all stared at me again.
Confusion. Surprise.
And beneath it—
Something else.
Subtle, but the tension in their expressions didn't escape me.
Ian let out a small laugh, shaking his head as he patted my back again.
"And you're telling us it's 'just enough'?"
"That company's already worth hundreds of millions, man."
"No way that's all there is to it."
He leaned back in his seat, waving my words off.
"You guys are basically tycoons now. Just low-key."
"That's true…" Ashley chimed in. "They've never even shown their faces on TV, right? Not even online."
"Their socials are pretty empty too," another added. "Just a few photos of their daughters."
I let out a quiet sigh, rubbing my temple.
"Enough about me," I said, meeting their gazes. "How's everyone been?"
They all fell silent.
But then—
"Kyle."
A voice called out, making all of us turn.
Anathasia walked toward us, her hair now tied in a high ponytail.
"I was looking for you," she said, stopping beside me before glancing at the others, offering a polite smile.
"I'll be taking my husband for a bit."
No one objected.
I stood up, giving a small wave.
"I'll head off first."
And just like that, we left.
[Someone's still stealing glances at you,] her voice echoed in my mind.
[Yeah… I noticed,] I replied, my eyes shifting slightly. Catching Leah from the corner of my vision as we walked away.
[She's really something else… still eyeing someone else's husband like that.]
[And she's your first cousin too. That's just—] she shivered, her expression twisting.
"By the way," I said.
She glanced at me over her shoulder.
"Nice save back there."
She paused for a moment. Then let out a small laugh as she continued walking.
I just sighed lightly and followed her back inside.
—
Later that night.
Everyone had gathered at the small cottage out back, Rose and her husband included.
Lena and Francesca had gone out for a walk… back to the place where Lena first descended nearly nineteen years ago.
As for us—
"Nighttime here really is my favorite," Anathasia murmured, resting her head against my shoulder.
"Couldn't agree more."
The distant laughter from the cottage slowly faded as we sat by the small cliff overlooking the roadside, watching the parked cars below.
"It's hard to believe I used to slide down this place as a kid."
"A random reminisce again?" she looked up at me.
I hummed, draping an arm over her shoulder as we both lifted our gaze to the sky.
A quiet settled between us.
Then—
"It's kind of funny…"
"Hm?"
I glanced down at her, my fingers idly twirling a strand of her hair.
"Remember when I said I was just a small part of everything?"
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Now that I know what I am…"
I let out a soft breath.
"…it's just funny, I guess."
"The fact that I almost spiraled into an existential crisis back then."
Silence followed.
The cold night breeze brushed gently against us—
And we simply sat there.
After a moment, Anathasia finally spoke.
"About Francesca…"
My gaze shifted to her immediately.
She slowly pulled away, her eyes drifting toward the road below.
"I'm a little worried."
Her hand found mine, fingers lacing together as she turned slightly toward me.
"Our family isn't normal," she said quietly. "We're tied to the very framework of existence."
"With Authority… comes responsibility."
Her eyes met mine.
"I don't want our daughters to end up like Rhea."
For a brief moment, something fragile flickered across her expression.
Her grip tightened.
"…Eventually, we'll have to leave Earth behind."
Her gaze dropped. Shoulders slumping slightly.
"I know I said I wanted a normal life with you… with our daughters."
"It's just…"
She hesitated.
"When the time comes… will you—"
"Come with you?" I cut in gently.
My free hand rose, cupping her cheek as a small smile formed on my lips.
"I thought we already settled that after graduation."
I gave her cheek a light tug.
"You said we could jump from one multiverse to another, right?"
"Somewhere people like us don't have to worry about being found out."
"Like Aegea."
She fell silent.
Her eyes glistened slightly as she gave a small nod.
She inhaled softly, leaning into my touch as a faint smile formed on her lips.
"Of course…"
"Why are you even worried?" I said, gently tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "We're already family. Of course I'd go wherever you go."
My expression softened.
"And honestly… your concerns make sense."
"People will find out eventually. Even now, they're already starting to."
I exhaled quietly.
"I knew what I signed up for when I married you, idiot."
Her brows immediately furrowed.
"Was that necessary…?"
Flick.
"—?! What was that for?" she winced, pulling back slightly as she rubbed her forehead.
"I just felt like it."
I leaned forward slightly, booping her nose.
"You're not going to be alone anymore, alright?"
"I'm here."
My arms wrapped gently around her, pulling her closer as she buried her face against my shoulder.
"We're here."
She stiffened for a brief second. Then slowly wrapped her arms around me, nuzzling into the crook of my neck.
"You've already done more than enough…"
The night breeze brushed softly against us as we stayed like that beneath the stars.
My hand rested behind her head—
Her quiet breaths warm against my skin.
—
Around two days after New Year's… and nine days after Christmas—
"What exactly are we doing here…?" Anathasia muttered under her breath as we both stared out at the garden stretching endlessly before us.
"I'm not sure…" I said, turning slightly to glance at the massive mansion behind us. "But this place is huge…"
The faint sound of water trickling from a nearby fountain filled the silence.
Until—
"Sir Abe."
A voice called out.
I turned toward it, Anathasia following a second later as she straightened from where she had been peering into the fountain.
A man in his sixties approached us, dressed casually.
"Mr. Li Mingyuan…"
He waved a hand dismissively.
"Mingyuan is fine," he said with a smile. "We're close confidants, aren't we?"
Then his gaze shifted to Anathasia.
He inclined his head slightly.
"And Mrs. Anathasia… or Mrs. Abe, rather."
She walked over casually, giving him a once-over.
"You definitely look older."
"…Mingyuan."
Anathasia smiled, arms still crossed. Mingyuan simply smiled in return.
"Still as filterless as ever," he chuckled. "You really haven't changed."
His gaze drifted between the two of us.
"The First Outer God of Continuity…"
"And the Fifth Outer God of Stillness…"
He shook his head slightly, letting out a quiet laugh.
—
A few minutes later, the three of us walked through the vast garden of the Li Family estate.
Plants were carefully shaped into intricate forms, while rows of flowers lined both sides of the cobblestone path.
"So," Anathasia spoke up. "Is there something you wanted to address?"
Mingyuan didn't answer right away.
He simply continued walking, hands clasped behind his back.
At the end of the path, a white pavilion came into view.
Once we reached it, the three of us took our seats. Anathasia and I beside each other.
Mingyuan let out a slow breath before lifting his gaze toward us.
"The Fuyukawas," he said quietly, his expression hardening.
"They've just informed us about… The Causality's sudden, unnatural displacement."