"Do you still have anything else to do at the Empire?" Ethan asked, breaking the silence accumulating between them as they left the hospital's premises.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Lillie shuffling into a more comfortable position on her seat, hugging the pillow firmly on her chest. "One meeting left—or dinner date, at most—with my parents. It'll be at six. I already completed most of my paperworks for today." ​​

"Would you like to stay with me in the company for a while?" The car stopped at an intersection as the stoplights turned red. Lillie has a minute to decide.

Left is where Hong Long's located while White Phoenix is on the right.

"Hm." She hummed in affirmation. With nothing important to do in the Empire, coming along with Ethan doesn't sound so bad.

Plus, both of them needed each other's company after the stressful episode at the hospital that left them psychologically drained, fragile, and uncertain.

"Mommy." Two eyes snapped away from their initial focus to look at the car's tablet that suddenly turned on and displayed the five year old girl Lillie has come to adore.

"Ai, what's wrong?" Lillie's tone and expression softened as she looked at the little girl's cherubic face that was a mix of hers and Ethan's—but mostly hers.

"You greeted mommy but not daddy? This child, ah." Ethan humorously reprimanded, adding a little bit of childish sulking.

"Don't be upset, daddy, Ai didn't forget about you." Ai said in a coaxing manner. "It just so happen that mommy came to my field of vision first."

She was so used to looking at her daddy's face that's why she can't help but give attention to her mommy first, who she haven't spend much time with.

Ethan mentally rolled his eyes, obviously doubtful of his daughter's excuse.

This cheeky child. As if I don't know what's going on inside your head. Who do you think made you?

And what field of vision? Your field of vision is as vast as a whole football field!

"I have a message from Uncle Blood Venom. There's intel on the location of Gentle Ripper and Little Freak. Unfortunately, we weren't able to reach in contact with them. So, a permission to send out a search unit is requested."

"Granted. Where's their location?"

"According to our intel, Gentle Ripper was seen at different districts in Hong Kong, he's not someone who stay for long in one place. On the contrary, Little Freak was in Japan the whole time, but the exact location was yet to be extracted."

"Let Fujikawa Haruka handle Little Freak." Japan is that woman's turf, she knows it like the back of her hand.

Ethan's eye twitched at the mention of the Japanese woman's name.

"Concerning Gentle Ripper, dispatch the search unit from the Hong Kong branch, and contact our allies to cover more ground."

"Commands received, mommy! I'll let the others know." Ai did an adorable salute.

"Thank you for your hand work, Ai. Great job."

"Hehe, you're always welcome, mommy! Bye-bye for now, see you later! Love you, mwah!"

"I love you too, sweetheart."

"What about me?"

"Love you, daddy!"

Ethan grumbled petulantly for being ignored, but nonetheless replied, "I love you too" with tenderness in his tone.

Ai's presence and childish enthusiasm washed away the gloominess that floated in the air around them.

They thought that this is okay for now. Ai is their daughter in anything but blood.

She's a sweetheart that loves both of them unconditionally. And it's not difficult for them to reciprocate that feeling.

Ethan's right hand drew away from the wheel to grasp his wife's left hand, providing her a sense of comfort.

He understands her silence. He knows what's occupying her mind, as it is the same to his.

Lillie laid her hand on top of his palm and intertwined her fingers with his, giving it a little squeeze. She, too, is providing him comfort.

In this treacherous journey, she's not alone.

She and Ethan are storming through it, and will reach the goal together.