The sleek car door swung open, and out stepped a dapper young man. His outfit struck the perfect balance—casual, yet polished—dark sweatshirt and tailored pants, making him look effortlessly charming. His brown hair moved gently in the breeze, and his green eyes, flecked with gold, caught the sunlight in a way that made them glimr with life.
Jerica’s heart skipped a beat. It was her brother.
The security guards gave him respectful nods, acknowledging his arrival, and Alfred waved at them before striding confidently toward the porch.
Jerica had spoken to Alfred a few tis, but their conversations had always felt slightly hesitant, as if he was holding back. He’d promised to visit when she was free, though she hadn’t expected him to actually show up. After all, he had every reason to feel conflicted. For over two decades, he had been the Sutherlands’ only child, their center of attention. Now, suddenly, he had an older sibling. Jerica couldn’t bla him if he felt displaced; she would’ve likely felt the sa.
"Do you think our son might have green eyes?" Jerica whispered to Jared, leaning toward him while keeping her gaze on Alfred. The golden-green hue of her brother’s eyes was undeniably striking.
Jared turned his attention from Alfred to Jerica, a faint hint of mock betrayal in his expression. "I thought my eyes were the prettiest ones," he said, voice low but tinged with playful accusation.
Jerica chuckled softly, unable to resist teasing him further. "Oh, no doubt about that," she replied smoothly. "But that’s exactly why I want our son to have those less-pretty green eyes, to even things out."
Jared shook his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Spending so much ti with Jerica recently had sharpened his ability to detect when she was pulling his leg.
"Jerica!" Alfred’s enthusiastic voice broke the mont. He approached with open arms, his excitent palpable. "I’m here... to et you!"
"Hi!" Jerica greeted him with a wave, his boundless energy infectious. Before she knew it, she had stepped forward to embrace him.
"Brother-in-law!" Alfred exclaid, moving imdiately to hug Jared as well.
Jared froze for a mont, startled by Alfred’s exuberance, but quickly returned the hug with a bemused smile.
In an instant, the air grew lighter, the energy around them buzzing with warmth and joy. With smiles all around, they made their way inside the house, laughter echoing faintly behind them.
"I don’t know what to say..." Alfred said, settling onto the couch with an easy grin. "You’re prettier in person. You’ve got Dad’s smile, but he says you’re more like Mom."
Jerica’s smile deepened, a soft warmth unfurling in her chest. This was her brother. She had never imagined herself in a mont like this, feeling so connected to family she’d only recently discovered. The thought that her child would have an uncle—soone to share life’s adventures and challenges—filled her with an almost overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Jared sat quietly beside her, watching as the pieces of Jerica’s life seed to co together, her world expanding in ways that made her even happier. He glanced over at her and caught the soft glow in her expression. It was enough to make his own heart swell.
They had dinner together, a warm, lively affair. Jared, as always, had taken charge of the cooking, filling the house with the comforting aroma of roasted vegetables, fresh herbs, and perfectly seared at. The al was simple but flavorful, a testant to Jared’s natural skill in the kitchen. Alfred’s eyes widened in delight with every bite, and he didn’t shy away from complinting the chef, which brought a rare smile of pride to Jared’s face.
Throughout the evening, Alfred’s curiosity beca the driving force of their conversation. He had an endless stream of questions, his enthusiasm bubbling over like a giddy child discovering a new world. Jerica hadn’t realized how studious he was until now. He shared how their father had always spoken highly of Jerica’s intelligence and resourcefulness, and he teasingly asked her to solve puzzles to prove it. When Jared joined in and effortlessly solved a particularly tricky one, Alfred’s intrigue shifted toward him.
The three of them spent hours solving puzzles together, but Alfred’s questions naturally gravitated toward Jared. Alfred’s eyes sparkled with awe as Jared explained legal concepts, broke down the intricacies of his profession, and shared anecdotes from cases he had worked on. It turned out they shared a similar taste in books, and their conversation took on a life of its own, diving deep into philosophy, history, and the nuances of the legal system. Jerica watched them, her heart swelling with pride. Her husband and her brother, so different yet connecting so seamlessly—it was more than she could have hoped for.
When Alfred turned his attention back to her, his questions about hacking and information-gathering were curious but fleeting. Jerica explained as simply as she could, and while Alfred listened attentively, it was clear that his interests lay elsewhere. That was fine; not everyone had to be passionate about the sa things, and she appreciated his effort to understand her world.
As the night unfolded, Jared brought up the topic of the Glover family. "I’ve seen a lot of ’gossips’ about them in the news lately," he remarked casually, though his tone carried an undercurrent of interest.
Jerica, curious, leaned forward. She rarely kept up with the news and wondered what Jared was hinting at. But as Alfred smirked knowingly, it beca clear this was her father’s doing.
"It’s Dad sending warning shots," Alfred explained, his tone light but tinged with a hint of amusent. "If they don’t budge, the next move won’t be so subtle."
Jared nodded in understanding, a small smile playing on his lips. "That’s for the best," he said.
"Dad told it was all your work," Alfred said, turning to Jerica with wide, admiring eyes. "I can’t believe we have a genius in the family..."
Jerica smiled warmly. "You’re a genius too," she replied, her voice sincere. She believed it—Alfred’s intellect was clear, and it reminded her of Jared’s sharp mind. Knowing that brilliance ran in the family gave her comfort. Her future children, she thought, would be blessed with a legacy of intelligence and resilience.
Alfred’s boyish enthusiasm returned as he leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Can you guys co live with us?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hopeful, almost childlike plea. "It’d be amazing to have you around."
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