Daniel slowly stepped closer to the hospital bed.

His eyes carried pride that he was not even trying to hide anymore.

"We are proud of you son."

His voice was heavy with emotions.

"And I thank God that you are safe."

Miles smiled quietly hearing that.

For someone who had spent years in darkness surrounded by missions, blood and death, hearing simple words like those somehow felt more valuable than medals.

After a while the heavy atmosphere inside the room slowly softened.

Conversations became lighter.

Then finally the nurse entered the room carrying a tray.

"There you go Mr. Sterling."

A bowl of warm porridge rested on the tray beside a glass of fresh juice.

Elena immediately stood up.

"Let me feed him."

The nurse smiled warmly and handed her the tray before quietly leaving the room.

Elena carefully sat beside Miles.

Slowly she stirred the porridge with the spoon before taking a small spoonful and blowing gently over it.

The movements were slow and affectionate.

Like she was feeding the same little child she had lost years ago.

Miles quietly opened his mouth and ate.

For a second he closed his eyes.

Then he sighed dramatically.

"I miss your cooking already Mom."

"Let us go home."

The entire room burst into laughter instantly.

Even Monica shook her head helplessly.

"The doctor already said you might be discharged tomorrow evening."

"They are still waiting for the results of a few tests."

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"But you are going to rest."

Miles looked offended.

"I cannot wait that long."

"I want to see my little soldiers."

Elena laughed softly while feeding another spoonful to Miles.

"I will bring them tomorrow morning."

The warmth inside the hospital room slowly erased the shadows left behind by the terrifying day.

But not every place in Star Harbor carried warmth tonight.

Far away from the hospital.

Inside the underground holding cells of Sterling Security.

Cold silence filled the dim concrete room.

Jax Mordecai sat quietly on the steel bench.

For the first time in years the powerful man looked old.

Actually old.

His expensive clothes were dirty.

His hair looked disordered.

His eyes no longer carried authority.

Only exhaustion.

Beside him sat Corbin silently.

The younger man kept staring at his father’s lowered face for several minutes before finally speaking.

"Enough of this Dad."

Jax slowly looked toward him.

"What got into you?"

Corbin leaned back against the wall.

"We can get out of here soon anyway."

Jax suddenly laughed.

But the laugh sounded broken.

"Out?"

His eyes slowly reddened.

"He killed your cousin right in front of me."

"Kyle was innocent."

His voice trembled.

"Do you not feel any rage for him?"

Corbin slowly turned toward his father.

"Rage?"

"For Kyle?"

A cold smile appeared on his face.

"Why would I?"

Jax looked stunned.

"He was your cousin."

"Like an elder brother."

Corbin’s expression suddenly changed violently.

"Do not ever call him my elder brother."

The sharpness in his voice shocked even Jax.

Corbin slowly stood up now.

His fists clenched tightly.

"Since childhood you always chose him over me."

"For everything."

"You and Grandpa looked at him like he was some chosen successor."

"You saw yourselves in him."

"And what was I?"

"An abandoned child."

"Sent away to boarding schools."

"Sent abroad."

"Kept away from the family."

His voice slowly became heavier.

"Did you ever speak to me like a father?"

"Did you ever spend time with Mom and me like a real family?"

"You were always busy."

"Busy with your dirty business."

"Busy with that damned hatred toward the Sterlings."

Jax slowly looked down.

"He had the blood of Mordecai."

Corbin laughed bitterly.

"So do I Dad."

His eyes became wet with anger.

"And what did I receive in return?"

"The label of being the son of a terrorist involved in espionage."

Jax opened his mouth slightly but no words came out.

Corbin continued.

"You dug your grave yourself."

"Just like Kyle."

"There was nothing you did not already possess."

"You were once the nation’s best weapons supplier."

"But your greed destroyed you."

"Your obsession with corruption allowed Wraithbourne to surpass you."

"And now look at you."

"You helped terrorists attack your own country."

He slowly shook his head.

"Honestly... I am not surprised anymore."

Jax stared at him silently.

Then Corbin’s expression darkened further.

"Yes."

"I know every crime you committed."

"I gave you chances."

"When Kyle disappeared I was happy."

"But you still never gave up on him."

His voice broke slightly.

"Mom, me... your grandchildren... we were always secondary."

"You came all the way to Star Harbor for Kyle."

"Alongside terrorists."

He looked directly into his father’s eyes now.

"I am ashamed that you are my father."

"I never want to see your face again."

Jax froze completely.

"The government is already coming for you."

"There is no bail for espionage."

At that exact moment the cell door opened loudly.

Several Sterling Security agents stepped inside.

One of them looked toward Corbin.

"Mr. Corbin."

"You are free to leave."

"The federal agency is on the way to take your father into custody."

Corbin slowly looked back at Jax one final time.

"From this moment onward..."

"He is not my father."

Jax suddenly stood up in panic.

"Son."

His voice cracked desperately.

"Please do not abandon me here."

"Take me with you."

"You are my own blood."

Corbin looked at him coldly.

"I wish I was not."

Jax’s breathing became uneven.

"Think about your mother."

Corbin’s expression did not change.

"Mother already moved on from you."

A painful silence followed.

"She will probably be happier hearing you are gone."

Jax froze completely.

Like his soul had just been emptied.

Meanwhile Corbin slowly turned around.

And without looking back again.

He walked out of the cell.

.....

Next Morning.

The peaceful neighborhood surrounding the Pearl Villa carried a fresh calmness after the chaos of the previous day.

Soft wind moved through the trees while sunlight slipped through the maple branches surrounding the properties.

Inside Olivia’s backyard.

Two wooden swords collided again.

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

The movements were swift.

Sharp.

Beautiful.

Clarissa stepped forward with terrifying precision while Olivia barely managed to block the incoming strike.

The impact traveled straight through Olivia’s arms.

Before she could recover, Clarissa’s wooden blade suddenly spun and stopped directly near Olivia’s neck.

Silence.

Heavy breathing echoed between the two women.

Olivia slowly raised both hands dramatically.

"I accept defeat."

She laughed while trying to catch her breath.

"You are on a completely different level now."

"You truly had to become Clan Supreme."

Clarissa slowly lowered the wooden sword.

A faint smile appeared on her usually cold face.

"You improved too."

Near the garden.

Lucian Winslow quietly sat on a lawn chair while sipping tea peacefully as if nothing in the world could disturb him.

The old man looked at the two women and smiled.

"Care for breakfast?"

"I prepared something in the kitchen."

Olivia immediately looked shocked.

"Really?"

"Then we are definitely eating together."

Clarissa looked genuinely surprised.

"I cannot believe you can cook Mr. Lucian."

"It is great that I got the chance to experience this before leaving."

Olivia blinked.

"You are going back already?"

Clarissa slowly looked toward the distant ocean horizon.

"Being Clan Supreme is difficult."

"There are responsibilities now."

A faint smile crossed her face again.

"Miles won that position for me."

"So I must carry it properly."

Lucian chuckled quietly while taking another sip of tea.

"That boy keeps changing the fate of people around him."

Meanwhile.

Inside the hospital.

The morning sunlight entered softly through the curtains.

Monica was already seated near the window while scrolling through multiple reports on her tablet.

Miles slowly opened his eyes.

The pain in his body still remained, but at least the dizziness had lessened.

Monica looked up immediately.

"Good morning Boss."

"You holding up?"

Miles slightly frowned.

"I am fine."

"These sedatives make me uneasy though."

Monica crossed her arms.

"You have to bear with it."

"You will recover faster."

Miles sighed helplessly before looking toward her carefully.

"So."

"What is the news?"

"I know there is something bothering you."

"Tell me."

Monica became quieter for a second.

Then she finally spoke.

"Jax Mordecai was almost extracted from the Agency’s custody last night."

Miles’ eyes narrowed slightly.

"Corbin?"

Monica shook her head slowly.

"No."

"It was her."

"Aveline."

The room suddenly became quieter.

Miles slowly closed his eyes.

"That woman..."

A tired sigh escaped him.

"I made a mistake sparing her life during our last confrontation in Paris."

Monica nodded seriously.

"She is vicious."

Miles looked toward the ceiling silently.

"She definitely still needs Jax because of the drug research."

His expression slowly became colder.

"Take care of the laboratory where Jax was working."

Monica immediately nodded.

"Yes Boss."

Miles slowly exhaled.

"I will deal with her myself once I recover."

Then suddenly.

Small excited voices echoed from outside the room.

"Big brooo."

"Big brooo."

Elena’s voice immediately followed.

"This is a hospital."

"Be quiet."

The next second Hope and Asher rushed inside anyway.

Their tiny footsteps immediately filled the room with warmth.

Hope quickly climbed near the bed carefully.

"Big brooo are you hurt?"

Asher’s face looked worried too.

"Are you in pain?"

Miles smiled softly.

Despite the bandages wrapped around his torso and arm, he still raised one hand and gently ruffled both of their hair.

"I am fine my soldiers."

"Just a little tired."

"We will play together again soon."

Hope suddenly remembered something.

"Mama give it."

Elena smiled softly and opened her bag.

Then she carefully pulled out a handmade card filled with uneven drawings and colorful handwriting.

Large letters were written across it.

GET WELL SOON BIG BRO.

Hope proudly raised it toward him.

"Me and Asher made it for you."

For a moment.

Miles simply stared at the card silently.

The rough coloring.

The badly drawn hearts.

The tiny stick figures holding hands.

Something inside his chest tightened painfully.

Not because of injuries.

He truly understood what it meant to have a home waiting for him.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

His eyes almost became wet.

"I am so happy..."

His voice became quieter.

"That I was able to see you both again."