The plane landed smoothly, and as the doors opened, two figures stepped out onto the tarmac. In front of them lood the large, modern airport building with New York Airport emblazoned in bold letters at the top.
Cian stood out with his caral skin and lithe fra. His long cornrows were neatly braided, and his outfit—a baggy black T-shirt, denim cargo pants, and white sneakers with blue accents—gave him a casual, youthful vibe. Beside him was Kaelon, a head taller and exuding a much more commanding presence. His muscular build was complented by strawberry blonde hair styled in an undercut. A thin silver chain hung around his neck, while the tattoos on his chest and arms peeked through the short sleeves of his fitted black shirt.
Cian’s excitent was almost contagious as he chatted animatedly, his hands gesturing to emphasize his story. "You should’ve seen their faces when they realized it was ! They didn’t believe I was the one who hacked their system!" he exclaid, glancing at Kaelon with bright eyes.
Kaelon nodded and smiled indulgently, his hand resting lightly on the small of Cian’s back as they walked toward the VIP section to retrieve their luggage.
Once their belongings were collected, Cian continued pointing out things—or people—that caught his interest. His curiosity made Kaelon chuckle under his breath. Before long, two n in black suits approached them. The n bowed slightly, one of them speaking in a respectful tone. "Mr. Kaelon, welco back."
With practiced efficiency, the n took their luggage and guided them toward the airport’s exit. Outside, a row of sleek black cars awaited them.
Cian’s eyes lit up as he turned to Kaelon. "Looks like your dad wanted to give you a grand welco."
Kaelon snorted, pulling open the car door for Cian. "Or maybe he’s hoping I’ll stay here permanently and take over his job."
Sliding into the car, Cian shot Kaelon a cheeky grin. "Maybe he just wants you to assist him, at least. You know, do sothing useful."
Kaelon laughed, closing the door behind him as he settled in on the other side. "You make sound like a terrible son."
"Well," Cian teased, wrinkling his nose, "aren’t you?"
Kaelon smirked, resting his elbow on the window sill and watching Cian with a warm, doting expression. "Whatever you say, Cian. Whatever you say."
"You’re so boring when you agree with ," Cian grumbled, rolling his eyes as he turned away.
Kaelon’s smile widened. Without warning, he pulled Cian closer until their shoulders touched. The teenager shot him an indignant glare, but Kaelon ignored it.
"When you get tired, just rest your head on my shoulder," Kaelon said calmly. "I don’t want to hear you complaining about a sore neck later."
"I’m not a baby," Cian retorted.
"No, but you sure act like one sotis," Kaelon teased, his tone light. "Besides, compared to , you are a baby."
"How am I a baby?" Cian snapped. "You’re 27, and I turned 18 just a few days ago! That’s only nine years—hardly anything!"
"That’s not what I ant," Kaelon said, chuckling softly. "Just sleep, okay?" He gently guided Cian’s head onto his shoulder, ignoring the teen’s protests.
"I said I’m not a baby," Cian muttered, his voice losing so of its defiance.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Kaelon replied, his voice laced with amusent. "Just rest. It’s a long drive to Dad’s."
This ti, Cian didn’t argue, though his lips pressed into a pout as he settled against Kaelon.
The car had only driven for a few minutes when Cian spoke up, his head on Kaelon’s shoulder.
"Do you think I will et Malia?" he asked in a quiet voice, the slight hope and excitent in his tone distinguishable.
"Of course, you will. Rember, that’s one of the reasons why we are here."
"Do you think she will agree to be friends with ?"
"From what I know, Malia is just like you, and she’s friendly to absolutely anyone who treats her well. So imagine your excited self eting her enthusiastic self. Of course, she will be friends with you and will get to love you just as you love her."
Cian laughed. "I’m sorry, it’s just so funny when you say it like that. I hope it will turn out just like you said." He turned his head and looked up at him. "Thank you!"
Kaelon smiled as he brought his hand forward and shifted Cian’s braids away from his face. "You’re welco."
Cian suddenly yawned, only covering his mouth when he was almost done. Then he shifted closer to Kaelon and found a comfortable position. "Wake up when we get there." With that, he closed his eyes, his breath evening out.
Kaelon stared at him and only shifted his gaze away when Cian shifted.
|Forty Minutes Later.|
The cars drove into a sprawling estate, the centerpiece of which was a grand two-story villa constructed of red brick. A large, intricately designed fountain dominated the circular driveway, water cascading over its tiers. The villa’s ground floor featured tall, arched windows frad with dark wooden accents, while the upper floor had smaller, rectangular windows with crisp white fras, creating a striking contrast against the rich brickwork. A balcony with ornate black tal railings spanned the front of the upper level, accessible through French doors. Surrounding the property were perfectly manicured hedges, small trees, and artful topiaries, all glowing softly under the golden sunlight.
The paved driveway extended toward an open garage area beneath part of the house, where an array of luxury cars in different models and colors glead under the soft lighting.
As the car ca to a halt, Kaelon carefully stepped out, Cian still asleep in his arms. His movents were gentle, ensuring the teen wouldn’t stir. Turning toward the villa, Kaelon’s gaze was drawn to the figure standing at the top of the broad stone staircase leading to the main door.
Dale Rivers, Kaelon’s father, stood with a broad smile, his salt-and-pepper hair gleaming in the light.
Kaelon approached with steady strides, stopping a few feet from the stairs. "Father," he greeted, his voice respectful.
Dale’s eyes shifted to the sleeping figure in his son’s arms. A fond smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head in amusent. "Couldn’t even stay awake long enough to say hello," he said with a chuckle. "I see he’s already made himself quite comfortable with you."
Kaelon glanced down at Cian, his features softening. "He’s had a long day," he replied.
Dale chuckled again, stepping aside and gesturing toward the villa’s open door. "Well, co on in. Let’s get him settled. We wouldn’t want him waking up cranky."
Kaelon smirked at the comnt but didn’t argue, following his father into the house. The interior of the villa was no less impressive than its exterior—an opulent blend of classic and modern styles. The grand foyer boasted a sweeping staircase with polished wooden railings and a glimring chandelier hanging above. Warm, earthy tones decorated the walls, while plush rugs and sleek furniture added a touch of coziness.
"His room is ready," Dale said, leading Kaelon through a corridor lined with paintings and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the sprawling gardens outside.
Kaelon followed his father down a long hallway, where soft gray rugs muffled their footsteps. On the walls, contemporary art pieces in shades of white, black, and brown were arranged tastefully. Recessed lighting in the ceiling provided a soft glow.
They stopped at a room near the end of the hallway. Dale pushed open the door, revealing a cozy yet slightly whimsical bedroom. The room was designed with a subtle children’s aesthetic, as though crafted for soone who had outgrown childhood but still cherished its simplicity. The walls were painted a calming pale blue, with white crown molding and baseboards. A soft gray carpet covered the floor, and a small bookshelf filled with novels and trinkets rested against one wall.
The bed was a twin size with a black tal fra, its headboard shaped in a gentle curve. The bedding followed the room’s color palette: a white comforter with thin blue and gray stripes and fluffy black pillows at the top. A plush armchair sat in the corner, upholstered in dark gray fabric with a small navy throw blanket draped over it.
Kaelon walked to the bed and gently laid Cian down, mindful not to disturb his rest. He removed the teen’s sneakers and placed them neatly beside the bed. Then he pulled the blanket up to Cian’s shoulders, tucking him in and adjusting the pillows as if it were second nature. As he straightened, Dale stood in the doorway, watching quietly.
"You’ve changed," Dale remarked, his tone thoughtful.
Kaelon turned to face his father, raising a brow. "How so?"
Dale smiled faintly. "The old you wouldn’t have cared enough to carry soone like that. You’ve grown softer—gentler. It suits you."
Kaelon chuckled softly, glancing back at Cian, who shifted slightly in his sleep but didn’t wake. "He brings it out of , I suppose."
Dale nodded, his expression approving. "Good. He’s lucky to have you, Kaelon."
"And I’m lucky to have him," Kaelon replied, his voice quiet but sincere.
Kaelon stood and adjusted the blanket one last ti before stepping away. He and his father quietly exited the room, closing the door silently behind them.
As they walked down the hall, Dale spoke in a low voice. "Do you want to have lunch first before talking? It was a long flight, after all. You must be hungry."
"No, there is no need," Kaelon replied as they walked into the living room.
"So, do you know the whereabouts of the drive?"
"Yes, and I’m going to get it soon."
Dale raised an eyebrow. "Really? How are you going to get it?"
"The drive is with Elmira, Eira Kingston’s twin sister. Once she knows the contents of the drive and pieces together that it was going to be sold back to the organization that owned it, she will contact and hand it over. Since she can’t use it for anything, the longer it stays with her, the greater the risk to her life."
"I see."
"Don’t look at like that, Dad. Another reason I’m sure is that Elmira doesn’t concern herself with things she can’t control, so you don’t have to be doubtful, okay?"
"Well, I’m just worried. You do know that boy from the Carver family has been putting his nose into a lot of things. If he finds out about this before the drive gets to Lyle Aelion’s hands, then it’s going to be troubleso."
Kaelon sighed and leaned back. "Fine, I’m going to reach out to Elmira. So what did you find out about Malia?"
"Her birthday is not the sa as Cian’s. It seems Sophia fixed her birthday with her daughter’s birthday when she had no idea what her adopted daughter’s birthday was."
"When is it? It would be good if Cian could et her then."
"Exactly two weeks from today."
"That’s good. I just hope she feels the sa way Cian feels about her, even if she doesn’t know he’s her biological twin brother."
"Don’t worry. Everything will go well."
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