As they strolled along, they were oblivious to Hendry and Alan, who hurried out of their room with wary expressions, as if something valuable had been taken from them.
While making their way down the stairs, Hendry and Alan spotted their parents in a similar rush and quickly trailed after them.
Meanwhile, Olivia was wide awake, troubled by Ethan's behavior towards her. Despite Gia's comforting words and suggestions to relax, she found it impossible to sit still and began pacing her room until the sudden blare of a fire alarm caught her attention.
In an instant, her heart felt like it had frozen at the unexpected noise, and her complexion drained of color. However, she quickly gathered herself and understood the situation. She hurried out of her room just in time to spot her family heading downstairs, so she decided to follow them.
As the fire alarm blared, the bodyguards, both visible and hidden in the shadows, sprang into action for safety protocols, with some even dashing into the kitchen to assess the situation.
The servants who rushed into the mansion upon hearing the alarm were utterly taken aback by the sight of so many guards gathered in one place, leaving them unsure of how to respond.
The most crucial thing was that some of the staff were extremely frightened since they were primarily responsible for the kitchen.
The unexpected fire created a sense of dread among them, as they couldn't figure out how it had happened.
Normally, before closing the kitchen, more than three people would inspect the kitchen thoroughly, and only after their approval would it be shut down.
However, they were baffled about where the error had occurred that led to the fire. The servants were shaking with anxiety, worried about the consequences they might face.
Once the flames were put out, Mark, who had been conversing with the bodyguards, turned to Ava and instructed, "Ava, please gather people to clean up the kitchen."
As the family made their way downstairs, the living room and the entire ground floor of the mansion were swarming with bodyguards, stationed at every corner to ensure the safety of the premises.
The couple and the Adam brothers didn't bat an eye at the sight of so many guards; they just hurried towards the crowd.
However, Olivia, who had no idea there were this many people protecting their home, was completely stunned and took a while to snap out of it until Gia, who had been observing the chaos from the side, noticed her and came over.
Mark was busy giving instructions to Ava and the staff when he spotted the couple along with the two Adam brothers. They all greeted them politely, saying, "Master, Madam, First Young Master, Second Young Master."
The three of them, excluding Kylie, acknowledged Mark with solemn expressions.
Unable to contain her anxiety, Kylie voiced her concerns, asking with deep worry, "Mark, what's going on? How did the fire start in the kitchen? Did someone break in? Is everyone okay?"
Mark, noticing the anxious expression on Kylie's face, addressed her with a steady and reassuring tone, "Please don't worry, ma'am. Everyone is safe, and no one has entered the mansion. It's just that…"
He paused, unsure of how to proceed, scratching the back of his head as he glanced at the crowd before him.
Seeing Mark's hesitation, Andrew shot him an impatient look and urged, "Just tell us what happened, Mark."
"Well, that is…," Before Mark could finish his thought, Kylie and Andrew were interrupted by a voice from behind, "Mom, Dad."
Kylie and Andrew instantly recognized the voice on the other end of the line. Kylie opened her mouth to say as she turned, "Lia, why did.....," but before she could finish, she noticed Zara's dress was splattered with black dust, and there were even some specks on her face.
Both Kylie and Andrew were taken aback by their daughter's appearance. However, Andrew quickly snapped out of his shock and rushed over to Zara, leaving Kylie with their two sons, who were just as surprised but still held their stunned mom.
Alan and Hendry, still holding onto their mother, moved closer to Zara.
Andrew approached his daughter, scanning her from head to toe, and asked with concern, "Lia, what happened? Why do you look like this?"
Zara glanced at her worried dad, catching a glimpse of her mom and brothers' startled expressions behind her. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she touched her nose and said, "Dad, I just wanted a snack..."
Her words left the whole family in shock, unsure of how to respond. Kylie snapped back to reality and rushed over, asking with concern, "Are you hurt anywhere, Lia? Does anything hurt?" She wrapped her arms around Zara, checking her for any injuries.
Zara, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the attention, just let her parents check her over, not really knowing what to say.
Andrew glanced at Zara, relieved to see she was unharmed, before shifting his attention to Kylie. With a gentle smile, he reassured her, "Sweetheart, take it easy. Lia is fine, so there's no need to worry."
He then turned back to Zara, affectionately stroking her hair as he said, "I'm glad you're okay. That's enough for now. If you get hungry later, feel free to ask the staff or me, alright?"
"Absolutely! Lia, your dad is spot on. If you'd rather not bother him, just come to me. I can whip up something for you," Kylie chimed in with a serious expression.
"No!" The men in the family, along with Jack, who was still in disbelief in the corner of the seat, reacted swiftly to his mother's statement.
Zara, familiar with her mother's culinary skills, couldn't help but smile at the men's response but chose to remain silent.
Alan, realizing the situation, cleared his throat and suggested, "Um, Mom, I believe it might be best to let the staff handle that."
Jack, now closer to Zara, quickly agreed, saying, "Exactly, Mom. Let the staff take care of it."
It was only then that the whole family noticed Jack, who was even dustier than Zara. His face was marked with dark smudges, and despite the commanding presence he exuded and his striking looks, his tattered and dirty clothes gave off a different impression. He appeared as if he had come from a rough background, yet with a distinct upbringing that set him apart.
"What happened to you, Third Brother?" Olivia, having just finished her conversation with Gia, stepped forward and inquired as soon as she spotted Jack in this state.
Although she had seen Zara looking disheveled, she felt more inclined to ask Jack about it. As she spoke, the rest of the family snapped out of their stupor, gazing at Jack with a mix of confusion and a hint of understanding.