Madison sat with her grandfather in the living room, while Allen stood quietly behind her sofa.
"I am really happy that she is okay," Grandpa said, a sigh of relief escaping him. "A massive burden was lifted from my heart the moment I saw her alive."
Madison nodded in agreement. "Yuri was exhausted, so she headed straight to bed. But Grandpa, we should call the family doctor to check on her as soon as she wakes up."
Grandpa nodded.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the screen; it was a text from Steve.
"Madison, your father has landed," the old man announced.
Madison bolted upright, her face lighting up. "What?! Really?" A bright smile broke across her face. She was finally about to see her father after so many years apart.
"He has some important business to look after first," Grandpa tempered gently. "But as soon as he's done, he will come straight here."
Madison sank back into her seat. I wish I could see him right now, she thought, though the initial wave of excitement still buzzed through her.
Grandpa looked at her and smiled warmly.
Present
Upstairs in her room, Madison was completely absorbed in her reading, fully focused on the second volume of a novel titled Secrets of Hero Town.
Her phone buzzed against the desk. She glanced down to see a new message from her father.
Father: I'll be there in about ten minutes. I am so excited to see my princess.
Madison beamed.
Madison: I'm waiting for you too! Please travel safely.
She placed the book face-down on the table to keep her page, then practically flew downstairs. As she reached the bottom, she crossed paths with their family doctor, who was just preparing to leave.
"Hi, Uncle," she said quickly.
He offered a warm wave. "Hi, kiddo," he replied, heading out the door.
In the living room, Yuri was sitting on the sofa, gesturing as she explained the recent events to Grandpa, who listened intently from the seat opposite her. Madison quietly joined them, waiting for Yuri to finish speaking before breaking her news.
"Father is on his way," Madison announced, her excitement written all over her face.
Yuri smiled warmly. "Madison, I actually ran into your father at the summit."
Before Madison could press for details, the doorbell rang. She leaped to her feet and rushed toward the foyer. "He's here!"
The others followed closely behind, smiles all around. Madison threw the door open to find her father standing on the threshold—the very same man Yuri had met at the summit. Steve and Victor stood like sentinels just behind his right and left shoulders.
Her father smiled warmly and opened his arms wide. Madison crashed into him, burying herself in a tight hug.
"Father, how have you been?" she asked, burying her face in his shoulder.
He patted her head, his smile widening. "I missed you so much, sweetheart."
"Welcome back, Uncle," Yuri said, stepping forward.
He walked into the foyer, gently patting Yuri's head as well. "Did you manage to get some rest?"
She nodded.
"You have grown in to a such a talented woman, attending summit with people of higher level. Your father must be proud of you." He said.
Yuri nodded with a smile, "I hope so." She said.
Then, his gaze shifted past her, landing on his own father. The Former Chairman stood waiting, opening his arms to his son. The two men embraced deeply.
"Come inside," Grandpa said, gesturing to the living room.
As the group moved into the house and her father settled onto the sofa, Grandpa began catching up with him. Madison watched them, her mind suddenly racing with questions.
When the time is right, she resolved silently, I'm going to ask him the truth about Mother... and about that kid.
At Ethan's House
Meanwhile, across town, Ethan paced around his living room. I need to visit Jake, he thought.
The only problem was, he had no idea where Jake actually lived. Maybe Madison and Allen know, he mused. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Allen's number and walked out onto his bedroom balcony.
The line rang twice before connecting. "Hello? Ethan?"
"Allen, there's something I need to ask you," Ethan said without preamble.
"Go ahead."
"Do you know where I can find Jake?"
"To be honest, I don't," Allen replied. "But let me ask Madison—"
"No, don't worry about it," Ethan cut in.
"Why not?"
"There's something else I wanted to bring up," Ethan said, looking out over the balcony railing. "I want to stay on as a bodyguard. Can you pass that along to Madison's grandfather?"
"I'll let him know and see what he thinks," Allen replied. "He'll make the final call."
Ethan nodded to himself. If I stay on their payroll and stay close to the family, I'm bound to cross paths with Jake again.
A short while later, Ethan's phone buzzed with a text message from Allen:
Allen: You can talk to the Former Chairman yourself. He's agreed to meet with you.
Ethan stared at the screen and nodded. Step one complete.