CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: SHADOW

Austin White thought of Joel White’s stern face, shuddered, and his expression instantly fell apart, "No, no, we’re civilized people, no fighting. But, godmother, when are you going back?"

"I’ve found some more things recently, so I probably won’t be going back for a while." Seraphina recalled what she’d discovered, and the smile on her face faded.

Austin nodded, didn’t ask more, and switched topics: "Just as well, I can’t go back either, there’s some business to handle. Godmother, you’re the host, you have to show me around."

The two chatted for quite a while, by the time they walked out of the venue, the sun was setting.

At the moment of parting, Seraphina finally remembered to ask: "Where are you staying lately?"

"At a hotel? Godmother, you going to take me in?" Austin blinked his charming eyes and put on a pitiful look, speaking pitifully.

"Of course, Jude just mentioned you a few days ago." Seraphina consented happily.

Upon hearing this, Austin’s face briefly stiffened. If it wasn’t for that little rascal Jude, how would Seraphina know he was in Bayside City?

Even after finding out he was here, he quickly sold him out, truly disappointing for how well he treated him before.

Seraphina brought Austin home, and just as they entered, they heard the highly popular game’s kill sound effect arising - "Penta Kill!!"

Seraphina "..."

Upon entering the living room, she unsurprisingly saw a large and small man sitting on the couch, holding phones, with similar faces showing identical expressions, staring intently at the screens.

"Jude." Seraphina wore a forced smile, her tone carried a hint that sent chills down one’s spine.

As soon as Jude looked up, he saw Seraphina at the entry of the living room and standing beside her was Austin. He decisively tossed his phone aside and ran over with a grin, hugging Austin’s leg.

"Second brother, why are you here? I missed you so much." He put on an innocent and adorable expression, quietly avoiding Seraphina’s gaze.

However, seeing Austin’s grinning face, his heart grew uneasy.

"Pour your second brother a glass of water, I’ll tidy up a room for him." Seraphina said, then went into an empty room.

Ignoring Desmond Fairchild on the couch as if he were air, they turned their attention away, leaving his face sour as he glanced at Austin.

He looked around twenty-something, a type favored by girls, sunny and handsome, tall and strong. Seeing Jude’s close interactions with him, they must’ve known each other for more than a day or two.

Thinking of the five-year blank he knew nothing about, Desmond’s discontent even extended to looking at Austin.

Upon entering, Austin’s attention was instantly drawn to Desmond on the couch. To his surprise, there was a man in Jude’s house, sharing such a resemblance with Jude.

Within a moment, Austin vaguely guessed his identity, his face not much better, his gaze equally filled with hostility.

"Who are you?"

"Uninvited guest, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?"

"Godmother’s godson, Jude’s brother."

"Jude’s father, Desmond Fairchild." Desmond’s tone was cold, his surprise was finding out Seraphina actually had such an old godson, never mentioning him before?

Their gazes interwove in the air, a subtle smell of gunpowder silently spread, a turbulent undercurrent surged.

At that moment, Desmond’s phone rang, breaking the eerie silence. He glanced at it and went into the room.

"What’s the matter?" He walked to the window and answered the call, his tone low.

"Boss, word came Y continent’s island code-named Shadow has arrived in Bayside City." A hoarse voice transmitted.

"When?" Desmond’s expression changed instantly to something heavy.

"Not sure, but he should soon find you. We still don’t know if he’s an enemy or ally, better be cautious for a period."

Desmond paused for a moment, gazing deeply outside before speaking: "Understood, inform me immediately of anything."

When Desmond finished the call and came out, Seraphina had tidied up a room, now arranging for takeaway.

"What do you want to eat?" Seraphina glanced at him and asked.

"No need, there’s something to do, I’ll head out and don’t wait for me." With that, Desmond grabbed the coat by the door and left in haste.

Austin watched his back thoughtfully until the door shut, then turned his gaze.

"Godmother, what does Jude’s father do for a living?" Austin probed.

Seraphina focused on her phone, not paying attention to Austin’s expressions, casually replied: "Just a low-ranking employee at Cloudsea Group, why?"

Austin thoughtfully glanced at the doorway, then let loose a smile identical to usual: "Nothing, just feels his aura isn’t just of a regular employee..."

Upon hearing Austin speak, Jude immediately became alert. Second brother wasn’t as easily fooled as mommy; if he pursued the matter to the end, things probably wouldn’t end well.

He carefully glanced at the duo, suddenly starting to cough, his face turning crimson.

"What’s wrong? Catch a cold?" Seraphina grew worried hearing Jude’s cough, tossing the phone aside and approaching him.

Austin’s attention also turned to him.

"No issue, just a bit of throat itch." Jude obediently shook his head.

"Let’s eat lightly today; maybe it’s heat causing this, I’ll brew some pear soup later." Seraphina touched his forehead.

With this diversion, the current issue barely passed through.

After Desmond left, he contacted Quentin Jennings: "Any anomalies lately in the company?"

"Yes, I was about to call you. Not sure why, but during the day, the whole company’s system was hacked for half a minute, all computer screens showed a smiley face, but within minutes everything auto-recovered." Quentin immediately briefed Desmond on today’s incident.

Desmond’s expression immediately went cold, having just learned Shadow’s arrival in Bayside City, then such an incident happened at his company today, linking the two instantly.

"Heading back to the company immediately, prepare the tech team and notify them for a meeting." With that, Desmond hung up the phone.

Quentin "..."

Boss, do you realize what time it is now?!

In the night, after playing a while with Austin, Jude couldn’t resist the sleepiness and went to bed obediently.

Austin sat on the couch watching Seraphina, his face always smiling, yet now it carried a somewhat serious expression.