Amara pulled Officer Park's visiting card from her purse as they made their way home. With a firm resolve, she dialed his number. He picked up on the third ring. Amara didn't waste time on pleasantries and went straight to the point.
"Officer Park, I need your help. Could you come by our home today?"
After receiving a positive reply, she ended the call and slipped the phone back into her bag.
Lost in thought, Amara didn't notice Liora's excited voice beside her. "Officer Park is coming over today?"
"Yes, Ora, he is," Amara confirmed. They took a Taxi and drove off.
The news briefly lifted Liora's spirits, but the thought of her late father quickly darkened her mood. A pang of guilt swept over her as she wondered why she felt happiness at all. Shouldn't she be mourning his loss, consumed by grief instead of finding solace in anything?
As her thoughts swirled, she remembered the boy who had so kindly offered her access to his secret room.
'That boy...' she whispered under her breath. A sudden realization hit her—she didn't know his name.
"Are you okay?" Amara asked, noticing the shift in Liora's expression.
"Yes, I just remembered something," Liora replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
What should she tell her mother? Liora wondered. Should she admit that she didn't even know the name of the boy she'd spent the entire day with? It felt awkward, but she resolved to ask him tomorrow, without fail.
With that thought, Liora turned her attention to the window, eagerly anticipating Officer Park's visit.
Caspian made his way swiftly to his grandfather's office at the mansion, bypassing the usual formality of knocking. He was the only one allowed to enter the Chairman's office without that courtesy.
Inside, the chairman was immersed in paperwork, with Robert standing by his side. The sudden opening of the door pulled their attention toward it.
"Grandpa, would you be upset if I declined to go to the USA for further studies?"
The chairman paused, placing his pen down and removing his glasses. Meeting Caspian's gaze, he replied calmly, "I'd be disappointed, but I expected this request." He continued, his tone measured, "However, my dear boy, you have no choice but to go."
Caspian had anticipated his grandfather's response, but he still chose to press the issue. His posture shifted subtly as he made his way over to the couch across from his grandfather's desk.
He slouched, elbows resting on his knees, fingers interlaced. His eyes, flushed with frustration and anger, bore into the floor, the blood rushing to his face.
Gritting his teeth, Caspian spoke with restrained tension, his voice strained, "Why didn't you tell me, Grandpa?"
The room's atmosphere quickly shifted from calm to charged.
"I didn't." The chairman's sharp gaze pinned him in place. "You, Caspian, failed to see it. You've greatly disappointed me." After a brief pause, he turned to Robert, giving him a commanding look. "Robert, I need some privacy with my grandson."
Robert quickly exited, leaving the grandfather and grandson alone for their conversation, standing guard just outside the door.
Caspian's eyes, once filled with fury, now widened in realization. His posture stiffened, and he began to process his grandfather's words. After a moment of intense reflection, the weight of his own failure became undeniable. He understood what his grandfather meant, He and Liora went to same school.
"No!"
"No!!"
"No!!!" His frustration erupted, each "No" louder than the last, as he violently shook his head in denial.
Caspian, on the edge of losing control, looked like he might snap. George, stood up, walked over and sat beside him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to steady him.
"Go to the USA, Caspian. Discover why I'm sending you there. If you understand the purpose and return with the results I expect, then and only then can you come back."
As George spoke, the room felt silent. Caspian's gaze never left his grandfather, hanging on to each word with rapt attention. Was this his way of punishing him for staying unware of Liora presence at school? He wondered.
That one thought was maddening him. He and Liora had always been so close yet in different world. She would probably be among the commoner kids.
He closed his eyes in frustration, wondering why they had never crossed paths before. If only he had known earlier and could turn back time, he would have seized every moment to spend with her before leaving for the USA.
"And when you return, I will declare you my direct successor." George voice intruppted Caspian's thought. "Your father and uncle, they do not have the capability to run this empire. You, Caspian, are the true heir to this legacy."
George's voice hardened with conviction as he looked into Caspian's blue eyes.
"I am sending a boy to the USA, but I expect you to return as a man."
Despite understanding his grandfather's words, a storm of conflict raged within Caspian. He knew he did not have ooption, but the internal struggle was far from over.
"I will handle everything here," George continued, sensing his grandson's hesitation.
"Whether I am physically present or not, grandpa, I will manage it. But do not interfere unless I say so." Caspian, met George's gaze head-on, unwavering.
The two of them locked eyes, like two lions—each filled with dominance—each silently declaring the clash of wills that was soon to unfold.
Caspian had no choice but to proceed with his journey to the USA as scheduled. With his mind heavy, he approached the door. After a deep breath, he decisively swung it open. But before stepping outside, he turned back toward his grandfather, his gaze steady.
"I loved the gift. Thank you," he said sincerely before he exited the room.
A satisfied smile crept onto the Chairman's face as he watched his grandson leave.
Amara and Liora returned home after a spontaneous hike through the mountains. Their cheeks were rosy from the fresh air, and their spirits were lifted by the stunning views they'd encountered. The nature had provided them a much-needed break, a moment of peace in their chaotic lives.
As they approached their home, they noticed Dane's car parked outside. As soon as he spotted them, he stepped out, holding a packed meal. It was a thoughtful gesture, one that spoke about his care and consideration for them.
A genuine smile spread across Dane's face as he saw Liora's beaming expression. The sight of her warmth always had that effect on him, her joy, pure and unburdened, was something he hadn't experienced in a long time. Every time he looked at her, his loniness seemed to fade away.
"Nice to see you, Officer Park!" Amara greeted him warmly, her smile as welcoming as ever.
"Nice to see you too, Mrs. Valentine," Dane responded, his voice calm yet filled with affection.
A familiar comfort settled over them as they prepared to share another meal together.
Once inside, Liora immediately searched for the glass shelf where her father's ashes were kept. Her eyes softened as she looked at it, a quiet reverence in her gaze.
"Hello, Papa, we're back home," she whispered softly, comforting nod to the shelf as if her words could bridge the distance between her and the memory of the man she loved.
She then made her way to the kitchen, her feet light despite the weight of the day, and began setting out plates and cutlery for their evening meal.
After such an eventful day, Liora's exhaustion quickly caught up with her. She savored her meal in peaceful silence. As the last bite disappeared, her eyelids grew heavy. Without warning, she nestled into her mother's lap, lulling her into a peaceful slumber within minutes.
Dane sat across from Amara, his heart melted away as he watched Liora sleep.
"May I?" he asked gently, his voice barely above a whisper.
Without a word, they exchanged a silent understanding. Amara gave a small nod, her permission clear.
With practiced tenderness, Dane rose and carefully scooped Liora into his arms, cradling her as though she were the most precious thing in the world. He carried her to her room, taking great care to tuck her in, adjusting the blankets around her small frame to ensure her comfort. With one last, lingering glance, he quietly exited the room, leaving her to sleep peacefully.
When Dane returned to the living room, he found that the table had been cleared. Amara was seated with her expression serious and contemplative. He sat back down in his previous spot, calm and steady, waiting for her to speak.
"Officer Park," Amara began, her tone focused, "I need your help. Would you mind driving us to cheaper hotel? Tomorrow morning, we're moving to Glacier's mansion."
Dane remained silent, he didn't press her with questions, but the questions in his eyes were enough for Amara to understand.
She took a deep breath and began to explain, recounting everything from the moment she'd received the message from Gambino to her decision to sign the contract with George Glacier.
"Whatever you're planning, Mrs. Valentine," Dane said, "count me in."
Once again, his commitment to her and Liora was unwavering, his loyalty clear as day.
Within the hour, Amara had gathered the necessary things for herself and Liora, packing them quickly and efficiently. She carefully placed the urn containing Mark's ashes into the back of Officer Park's car, handling it with the utmost care as though it held not just the remains of her late husband, but everything she was leaving behind.
Dane gently lifted the sleeping Liora into his arms, his movements steady and calm, and placed her in the backseat, making sure she was comfortable and safe. As he closed the door, he took a moment to glance at Amara, ready for whatever came next.
Dane and Amara stood in front of the house, capturing the moment for the last time. This was no ordinary departure. The memories rushed back to Amara: Mark's smile when they received the news of their pregnancy, the joy of Liora's first steps, and the laughter that had filled these walls.
Her chest tightened, and tears welled up in her eyes. She fought to hold back the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Her thoughts, however, shifted quickly to Gambino and those responsible for Mark's death.
With a steady breath and trembling hands, Amara struck a match and lit it, watching as it ignited and bathed the entrance of the house, without hesitation, set the match to the ground.
The fire took hold, growing rapidly, its heat licking at the house, devouring the structure with greedy intensity. The flames rose higher, casting shadows over the house that had once been filled with love, now consumed by the very destruction Amara had set in motion.
It was a symbolic act, signalling the end of an era and the beginning of a new journey. A journey that would be paved with vengeance.
"Tonight, no one in this neighborhood will sleep soundly," Amara whispered fiercely, her voice cold. "Those who were responsible for leaving us helpless, for tearing apart our family, for stealing our joy... they will pay for this. With their lives!"
She paused, watching as the memories of happier days burned to ash.
"And then, Mark... I will shed my tears for you. But only after I've made them all pay for what they've done." She took a vow, as the flames crackled, reflecting the fire that now burned in her heart.
As the fire continued to rage in Oakridge Heights, Amara and Dane climbed into the car, leaving the neighborhood behind.
Meanwhile across town, at Luxor Estate, behind the grand Glacier Mansion, another fire had been kindled. A different kind of spark had been set into motion, and with it, the promise of a storm to come.