C334 Hero's Are Remembered

Prince remained silent for several moments. He looked at Laura carefully, as though he was trying to understand whether she had truly made up her mind or was simply caught up in the excitement of having powerful friends. Finally, he sighed. “Laura, is this friendship really what you want? Do you truly believe it will protect you as well?” Laura nodded without hesitation. “Yes, Dad. I do. They already forgave me once when they had every reason not to. I believe they will stand by me if I ever need them.”

Prince studied her expression for a few more seconds. He could see that she had already made her decision. “Then it is your choice,” he finally said. “But remember something. If the day ever comes when those people come after the Gomez family because of your connection to them, you will also have a responsibility to protect this family.” Laura's face immediately brightened. She stood up and walked over to her father-in-law before giving him a grateful hug. “Thank you, Father.” Bright stared at his father in disbelief. “Dad, you agreed?”

Prince looked at him. “What else can I do? She has already made up her mind.” Bright sighed heavily. “Laura and I are only just starting to get along. Why would I want to become a widower?” Laura laughed. “Bright, stop overthinking. I won't die.” She paused before adding confidently, “Besides, war is for men. We women will train mainly for self-defense. If someone tries to use us as leverage against our families, at least we won't be completely helpless.” Prince raised an eyebrow. “When did you become so knowledgeable about such things? And what did you call it?” “Leverage,” Laura replied.

Bright looked at her suspiciously. “Where did you learn that?” Laura smiled. “Well, I've played enough video games to know that women are often held at gunpoint to lure their husbands into traps.” Godness shook her head. “Laura, just promise me something. If you ever find yourself in danger and you have the chance to retreat, then retreat. Don't try to become a hero.” Laura laughed. “But heroes are the ones people remember.” Bright grinned. “You want us to remember you? Does that mean you're already prepared to die?”

Laura's smile disappeared. She suddenly remembered something. Bright continued. “Have you forgotten how Chris teased me and said I don't do the job?” Laura immediately choked. Prince frowned. “What job?” Laura's face turned red. “I... I will go wash the dishes.” Before anyone could ask another question, she quickly turned around and disappeared into the kitchen. She didn't look back. As she walked away, she muttered under her breath. “Bright is really too talkative. How can he reveal things like that so easily?” She shook her head and entered the kitchen.

Back in the living room, Bright burst out laughing. “She ran away because she knows exactly what I'm talking about.” Prince looked at him suspiciously. “What are you talking about?” Bright grinned. “Alicia is pregnant with Mike's child, and Sarah is pregnant with Chris's child.” He paused dramatically. “They said I don't do the job because Laura isn't pregnant.” Prince nearly choked. “Sarah Wood is really pregnant?” Godness burst into laughter. “They aren't wrong. I wouldn't mind having a grandchild.”

Bright immediately stood up. “You know what? I'm going to keep myself busy.” He pointed toward the hallway. “Good night.” Then he quickly walked away. Prince shook his head while Godness continued laughing. “You can run away,” she called after him, “but you can't avoid the conversation forever.” Bright's voice came from the hallway. “Whatever!” The laughter in the living room continued for a while.

At the Mooney Residence. Alicia and I finally arrived home. As we entered the driveway, I noticed that the lights inside the house were still on. Alicia looked toward the house. “Are they still awake?” I smiled. “You should be happy.” She immediately understood what I meant. Her face lit up as she lifted the gold dagger slightly. “I want to tell everyone what happened.” She looked toward the house excitedly. “Come on. Let's go inside. If they're asleep, we'll wake them up.” I laughed. “Wife, calm down.” But Alicia was already walking toward the entrance.

The moment we stepped inside, however, both of us stopped. Everyone was still awake. But something was wrong. The atmosphere was unusually quiet. Mark was sitting in the living room with a serious expression. Peter, Quinton, Mary, and Georgia were there as well. Alicia didn't seem to notice the tension. She immediately rushed toward Mark. “Dad!” Mark looked up. Before he could say anything, Alicia wrapped her arms around him. “I found my mother's family!” Her voice was filled with excitement. “Dad, they told me my mother was just like me. Grandpa was so happy when he saw me. He even cried because, for a moment, he thought I was my mother.”

Mark's serious expression softened slightly. He placed a hand on Alicia's back. “Calm down, Alicia. Tell us everything.” The excitement on her face suddenly faded. Her eyes became watery. “Dad...” Mark nodded gently. “I'm listening.” Alicia wiped her eyes. “There was a cold pool there.” She slowly pulled away from Mark and lifted the gold dagger. “Look what I found.” Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward the strange dagger. Alicia continued. “The moment I picked it up, everyone bowed to me.” She looked around the room. “They called me... Madam.”

Everyone stared at her. Then, almost simultaneously, their eyes shifted toward me. I slowly shook my head. “I don't know either.” Peter cleared his throat. After a moment, he finally spoke. “Can you tell us where you went?” Alicia looked at him. Peter continued carefully. “Did you go to the Gupta family?” I frowned. “You all knew about them?” Peter shook his head. “No. We don't know where they are.” He paused. “That's exactly why I'm asking. The Gupta family isn't in the city, and despite everything we've tried, we were never able to find their location.”

Alicia's expression changed. She slowly walked away from Mark and sat down. “Yesterday, I called the number I found in my mother's diary.” Peter exchanged a brief glance with Mark. “I thought so,” Mark murmured. Alicia continued. “When I called, Grandpa Victor answered. At first, he thought I was my mother, Gabrielle.” Her voice softened. “He was so happy.” Everyone listened quietly. “He sent me his location, so after work, Mike and I went there.” I nodded.

Alicia looked down at the dagger in her hands. “When we arrived, the guards kept saying that I looked familiar. I told them that my mother had died and that I had come because I wanted to know more about her family.” She paused. “Grandpa Victor then took me somewhere inside the residence.” Peter listened carefully. “Where?” “To an ancestral room.” Alicia took a slow breath. “He told me that his family line was coming to an end. That was one of the reasons he adopted my mother when she was young.”

She looked at everyone. “He told me everything he knew about her.” Georgia's eyes became slightly watery. “And then?” she asked softly. Alicia looked down at the dagger again. “He told me that there was something in a cold pool that many people had tried to retrieve, but none of them succeeded.” She smiled faintly. “I didn't know what he expected me to find.” She slowly raised the dagger. “So I put my hand into the water.” Alicia shivered at the memory. “It was freezing.”

She paused. “But then I felt something.” Her fingers tightened around the dagger. “I grabbed it.” The room became completely silent. “And when I pulled it out, everyone froze.” She looked at the others. “The guards rushed inside and bowed to me.” Alicia's voice became quieter. “They called me Madam.” Peter stared at the dagger. “And Victor?” “He told me that this dagger was meant to be taken by the next patriarch of his family line.” Everyone exchanged glances. “He acknowledged me as the next leader of his family.”

The silence that followed was heavier than before. Alicia finally broke it. “Grandpa also told me that I don't need to worry about finding coaches anymore.” Peter looked at her. “Why?” “Because I'm now the patriarch of the third family line.” She smiled. “All of their guards and security personnel are technically under my command.” Peter's eyebrows rose. “But you didn't ask for all of them, did you?” Alicia shook her head. “No. I only asked for ten.” She smiled. “Grandpa Victor agreed. Those ten people will come and help us train. They'll teach us what they know so we can become stronger.”

Peter slowly leaned back. “Well... finding coaches was proving difficult anyway.” Alicia smiled. Then she turned toward Mark. “Dad, did you manage to order the weapons?” Mark cleared his throat. “Wait.” He stared at her. “You said you're now the leader of the Gupta family's third branch?” Alicia nodded. “That means you actually went there?” “Yes.” “Then where is the Gupta family located?” Alicia hesitated. “I don't know exactly.” Peter frowned. “What do you mean you don't know?”

Alicia thought for a moment. “It was far away from the city. We drove through a strange forest. It was dark and heavily guarded.” Quinton finally spoke. “You two went there alone?” I answered. “We followed the location Victor sent us.” Peter looked at me for a moment before returning his attention to Alicia. “And after all this, what will you do? We spent so much time asking the Smith family to stay with us.” Alicia shook her head. “Grandpa, I don't need to live with them.” She paused. “They know my mother was married and that I already have a family of my own. I told them I'm married, so they understand.”

Peter didn't respond immediately. Instead, his eyes moved back toward the dagger. “What exactly is that?” Alicia smiled. “It's a dagger.” Peter gave her a look. “I can see that.” Alicia laughed. “They said their ancestors used it during wars and won many battles with it.” She lifted it slightly. “It is very heavy. They told me I have to train with it.” Alicia then handed the dagger to Peter. The moment it landed in his hands, his expression changed. “What...?” He adjusted his grip. “How can a dagger be this heavy?” Alicia laughed. “I told you.”

Peter stared at the weapon for several seconds before carefully handing it back. Alicia then remembered something else. “Oh, Grandpa.” She reached for the photo album she had brought with her. “This is my mother's album.” The moment she said those words, Georgia and Mary exchanged a glance. Neither woman said anything. They simply reached for the album. Georgia took it first, and Mary moved closer beside her. The two women sat down together on the couch and slowly opened it. Neither of them spoke.

They simply turned the first page. Then the next. And the next. Alicia watched them quietly. The excitement on her face faded. She understood that, for everyone in the room, this wasn't just an album. It was a piece of Gabrielle that they had never been able to hold onto. And now, after all these years, it was finally back in their hands.