n

n

nIn a dark and narrow alleyway, Ray and two more of his members in the investigation team are currently on the run.

nThey did not expect that things would turn out this way. Everything was unprecedented.

n

"There seems to be more of them! We have to retreat at once!

"

n

"We'll be cornered at this rate...! Damn it!

"

n

"Just how the heck did they find us so soon?!

"

nIt's way past midnight when an aggressive exchange of bullets erupted in the middle of their probe - which soon led to this mad chase.

nRay and his group were treading the path to their last destination that evening. They were supposed to retire earlier that day, but a certain discovery prompted them to scout around for a while longer - one that had them racing against time.

nIt just happened that one of the suspects behind the assassination who were affiliated with the driver had managed to survive.

nUsing the findings they gathered from their interrogation with Gertrude earlier that morning, they learned about the car rental agency from which the vehicle was chartered. She told them that the driver was an employee who had been working for the Millicent for a few years, but the car that she had Cassidy use that day was not theirs.

nRay and the others first thought that Gertrude was involved in one way or another, but they later concluded that she was innocent on this matter - considering that there was a number of evidences that said she had no idea about the assassination, much less had a role in it.

nPer Adrian's request, they made sure that she would not find out that it was her son who hired them to investigate. They reasoned out that they were only conducting an investigation on the mysterious death of a man near at a service road who turned out to be their family driver.

n'Gosh, the hatred of a mother-in-law... Their family owns tons of luxurious cars. What's the need of a renting one for her daughter-in-law, and a very cheap one at that? Did the President know about this? Well, he had to. He needed to address this matter with her - otherwise, I would be urged to investigate that woman for a different purpose,' was what Ray thought about after their grueling interrogation with Gertrude.

nOnce they finished collecting all the details about the car rental agency that she told them about, they proceeded to pay a visit there and meet the people who helped arrange the charter. That was when they discovered about this certain employee who quit his job at the very same day the driver and his affiliates were murdered -

nAnd that person raised their suspicions due to the facts that he only had that job days ago and he shared a connection with those who were found dead.

nHe was the lead that caused them not to retire earlier that day. He was that discovery that prompted them to scout around for a while longer - one that soon had them racing against time.

nRay and a few members of his team went out to search for that person in a particular location at the city. That place turned out to be this backstreet that seemed isolated and empty. It's filled with narrow alleys, rundown abodes and unused warehouses.

nThe setting itself should have alarmed them enough. It should have gotten them preparing for a terrible turn of events.

nBut then, it had to get to the point where they were ambushed by a group of unascertained individuals who seemed to be connected with the suspect they were looking for. From that moment on, they found themselves running for cover.

n

"Sir Ray, look out!

"

nThen came another round of gunshots.

nThe blaring sound pierces through the air like how the bullets try to penetrate their targets. Leads rain down on them from above while some are shot from the sides.

nTheir enemies are everywhere at this point. Only then did they get the impression that this whole place was their territory.

nRay and his companions went ahead to take cover for the meantime. Their pursuers know this area a lot more than they do, which is why it will only be futile to keep running. They have to at least talk things out with them in order to buy time and wait for their back-ups to arrive.

n

"Sir, what are you doing?!

" one of his companions asked in flummox.

n

"You're really going to negotiate with our shooters?!

" the other bolted out.

n

"Come on, you two. I've been in this field for more than a decade now. There were times when a tragedy could've been avoided with only a simple conversation,

" Ray reassured them before going back in the open again.

n

"Aren't we already past that point when they started shooting at us?!

"

n

"Yeah! That is dangerous, Sir! Please, get back here!

"

n

"Calm down, calm down. Geez...

"

nWhat greets their ever laid-back leader as soon as he is out of their hiding spot is a blonde young man clad in black and grey.

nHe is wearing a black fitted turtleneck top on, a pair of grey pants, and combat boots. With his black mask covering half of his face, he can't see his whole profile. However, his electric green eyes -

nThose emerald eyes speak of rage and vengeance with how they are glinting menacingly.

nAgain, Ray has been working in this field for a long time now. As an investigator, he doesn't only look into physical clues and concrete evidences. He also looks into people, reads their body languages, and deciphers their thoughts as much as he can.

nFor one, the way this blonde guy points his gun at him somehow tells him that he wants a straightforward and direct approach. The fact that he is not pulling the trigger yet tells him that he is giving him time - not to escape, but to speak.

nRay can talk, but he has to be blunt and quick.

n

"We came here to meet a certain individual who we suspected to be involved in a failed assassination. We do not mean any harm,

" he calmly started.

n

"Who sent you?

" the blonde asked, firm and demanding.

n

"I'm afraid I can't disclose that. We're private investigators.

"

n

"A legal agent...? Show me.

"

nThat's when Ray shows him his identification card. Revealing his identity like this may be reckless, but ensuring his and his comrades' safety is more important at the moment. He needs to comply.

n

"Hmm... This ID seems authentic... I see now...

" he muttered with a contemplative gaze.

n

"So, you guys aren't sent by that person, then.

"

n

"That... person?

" he blurted out in puzzlement.

n

"By failed assassination, you are talking about that one targeting someone from the Millicent family, aren't you?

"

nWhen this man addressed that topic as if it wasn't the private matter that it should've been, Ray had a feeling that he was about to learn yet another unprecedented side of the whole tragedy. For now, however, he takes time to be satisfied with the outcome as their pursuers begin to lower down their weapons.

n

"Ray, was it...? Follow me. Let's take this somewhere else.

"

n---

nBack in the Millicent's mansion.

nCassidy had just finished tucking her nephews in bed - at least two of them, that is.

nDamien lies wide awake beside his brothers. He has his eyes glued on the ceiling of the bedroom, unable to sleep despite the soothing lullaby that his aunt sang for them.

nThe four of them are sharing her king size bed at the moment - with Cassidy at the furthest right and Damien on the left.

nHugo and Joshua are sleeping in between the two of them. The former is still clinging onto her even in his sleep while the latter is facing the toddler's back. Initially, only the youngest asked to sleep beside her that night, but when a pillow fight broke out between the brothers, they all found themselves on her bed.

nThen, before they knew it, they already got tired and simply decided to gather together there instead of going to their respective rooms.

n

"I still can't believe that Aunt can sing like that...

" Damien started as he turned to his side and faced his aunt, making her look at him.

n

"It's the first time anyone sang us a lullaby - a very beautiful one at that.

"

n

"Why, thank you...

" Cassidy giggled a little, flattered by the compliment.

n

"I used to do this with the other kids back in my previous home. It's been a while since I sang that song. As I thought, you guys would love it too.

"

n

"Sounds like you have many siblings.

"

n

"They're not my siblings. I didn't grow up with my biological family.

"

n

"Huh? Then, that means...

"

n

"I was an orphan. One of the oldest at the orphanage that time.

"

nDamien is quite taken aback.

nNo one knew about Cassidy's background - not even Adrian. Only his deceased grandmother knew. She herself wouldn't reveal where she came from or who she really was back then. This was one of the reasons why nobody in the household trusted her.

nWith all that said, Damien did not quite expect that Cassidy was actually an orphan.

n