C383 Before We Disappear

At the Wood residence, the house had finally become quiet. After the long and exhausting day, everyone had retreated to their rooms. The events surrounding the Mooney family attack, Alicia's rescue, and the threats from the Harris family had left everyone mentally drained. Most of the lights downstairs had already been turned off. The maids were finishing their last duties for the night when a knock suddenly came from the front door. One of them hurried toward the entrance and opened it. When she saw Chris standing outside, she immediately stepped aside. "Good evening, Mr Chambers." "Good evening."

Chris glanced around the quiet hallway. "Is my wife still awake?" The maid nodded. "Yes, sir. She is in her room." Chris smiled. "Thank you." He walked upstairs. When he reached Sarah's room, he knocked gently. There was a brief silence. Then Sarah's voice came from inside. "Who is it?" "It's me." The door opened. Sarah's eyes widened when she saw Chris standing there. "Big Head? Why are you here?" Chris smiled. "I missed you, Chipmunk." He stepped closer. "And obviously, I missed my son." Sarah shook her head and laughed softly. "You could have waited until morning." "I could have." Chris looked past her toward the baby. "But I didn't want to." Sarah stepped aside and allowed him inside. Chris immediately walked toward the baby.

Tristan was awake, moving his little hands while making quiet noises. Chris smiled. "Look at my boy." Sarah sighed dramatically. "Your boy has been eating all night." Chris laughed. "He's a growing boy." "He's only eating and sleeping." She touched her stomach and sighed again. "And now I'm hungry too. Breastfeeding is definitely not for me." Chris laughed. "You've just become a mother. Give yourself some time." He carefully picked Tristan up. "Here. Let me carry him for a while." Sarah watched her husband holding their son. For a moment, everything seemed peaceful. No enemies. No danger. No secret plans. Just a young family enjoying a quiet night together. Chris sat beside Sarah while she rested. They spent the remainder of the night together, talking quietly and enjoying the rare peaceful moment they had been given. Neither of them knew how valuable that night would become.

The Next morning arrived earlier than expected. At the Mooney residence, A baby's cry echoed through the bedroom. I opened my eyes and immediately looked toward Alicia. She was already awake. Emmanuel's cries continued. Alicia sighed. "Your son is awake again." I smiled tiredly. "Apparently he doesn't believe in sleeping." I picked Emmanuel up and began walking around the room. For several minutes, he continued crying. I rocked him gently. "Come on, little man. Your father is tired." Alicia watched us from the bed, smiling. Eventually, Emmanuel became quiet. I looked at him. "Finally." Alicia laughed softly. I carefully placed him beside her. Then she looked at me. "Honey, we need to talk."

I immediately became serious. "About what?" "Lucia Goods." I nodded. "I was actually thinking about that." Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Really?" "Yes." I sat down beside her. "When we first arrived at Lucia Goods, Leon and Adam were already serving as interim directors." Alicia nodded. "So I was thinking we simply appoint them again." She looked at me carefully. "We can tell everyone that you're taking maternity leave while I help manage things beside you." Alicia immediately shook her head. "No." I frowned. "No?" "We can't lie to them." I stared at her. "Alicia, we're disappearing for three months. We can't exactly tell everyone where we're going." "I know." She looked down at Emmanuel. "But there's a difference between keeping our location secret and lying to people who trusted us."

I remained quiet. Alicia continued. "The whole company trusted us enough to accept the contracts. If we're going to disappear, they deserve to know that something serious is happening." I sighed. "Then what are you suggesting?" Alicia looked at me. "We tell them the truth." I laughed. "You've already decided to stay here and babysit our son while I'm the one who has to go to work, and you're still saying 'we'?" Alicia smiled. "Go to work." She pointed toward the door. "I'll come in during the afternoon." "And then?" "I'll explain everything myself." I nodded. "As you wish, Cipher." Alicia giggled. "You're getting used to that name." "I suppose I am."

I stood up and prepared to leave. Before reaching the door, I turned around. "One more thing." "What?" "What are the plans for today's club meeting?" Alicia thought for a moment. "Everyone will attend." I frowned. "Everyone?" "Yes." "Are you sure?" She nodded. "I don't want only our fathers and Grandpa involved. This concerns all of us." I understood what she meant. "If we're really going to disappear, the other families need to understand why." Alicia nodded. "It might be difficult to convince the other families." "It probably will be." I looked toward Emmanuel. "But we'll figure it out." Alicia smiled. "That's why we're the Lions."

I smiled back. "All right, Cipher. I'll see you this afternoon." I walked toward the door, then stopped again. "Take care of yourself." Alicia smiled. "You too." I pointed toward Emmanuel. "And don't let our son cry too much." Alicia laughed. "He has been crying even with you by his side. I need to ask mother if you were a cry baby when you were young." I shook my head. "Impossible. He inherited that from you." Alicia threw a pillow at me. I laughed and quickly escaped through the door. For a few seconds, Alicia simply watched me leave. Then she looked down at Emmanuel. Her smile slowly faded.

Three months. That was how long she would have to leave him. Three months without holding him. Three months without watching him grow. Three months without knowing whether the people she loved were safe. She gently touched his tiny hand. "I'll come back," she whispered. She didn't know what the future held. But she knew one thing. Whatever happened next, she would fight her way back to her family.