Chapter 31 - Conclusion To The Night That Started It All

Maximilian can't believe this is happening. 

In front of everyone there, he made a fool out of himself. His daughter had just dodged an embrace from him and went on to tackle her grandfather in a hug instead. She straight-up ignored him.

Through the corners of his eyes, he could see that the police officers around them had witnessed the scene. Some of them pretended to cough while the others turned away to hide the amused looks on their faces. 

"What a relief! Our little lady's okay!" Benedict went on to talk in a loud voice as he picked Lady up and carried her in his arms. 

"Thank you for coming to our rescue. I owe you a lot."

"Oh, no, my dear. I should be sorry. Forgive me for not believing you earlier. I should've listened."

"It's alright. What matters is that you're able to save me and Fallon. Now, we're okay. It's really all thanks to you."

"You're giving me too much credit, my granddaughter! You really are the sweetest!"

Maximilian just stood there.

Ignored. Alone. Unappreciated.

Technically, he should be given credits as well - more, even. He's the one who called for the cops, arranged a search party, and led the team that tracked down his daughter and nephew's location. His father, on the other hand, only caused trouble by attempting to call a whole ass army, nearly crashing into a traffic light after insisting their driver to go faster, and jumping right off of the helicopter that they rode in at the end as soon as they arrived. 

That whole time, Maximilian was the one who kept Benedict from going wild. Calixtus was no help at all since he was too worried about Fallon to think of anything else.

It's more than obvious that he's the one who worked the hardest. 

"Ummm..." he tried to cut in but hesitated. 

"Excuse me, Father. But may I check on my daughter, too-"

"How about you, Grandpa...?" his daughter suddenly piped in, cutting him off.

"How are you? Oh, and Granny? Is everyone else okay?"

"My! After all that you'd been through, you're still thinking of others...?" his father exclaimed in awe, hugging her tighter and squishing her cheek with his, which earned giggles from her. 

"Our little lady's such an angel! You should be thinking more about yourself! Don't worry about those things!  Leave it all to Granpa! I can handle them!"

Now, Maximilian feels like he's intruding. This is unbelievable. Benedict is not only being sickeningly sweet, which is already astonishing since he's usually stern and stoic. He's also doting on Lady to his heart's content - wanting to keep her all to himself. 

It's starting to give him the impression that he doesn't even want to give his own daughter back to her - or so he thought.

'Lady, you savage. To make Uncle Max show such a face.'

Unbeknownst to Maximilian, Fallon can tell what's really going on here - and he has to admit that it's quite entertaining. Even though Lady only appeared like she was enjoying talking with Benedict, he could see the tiny quirk that tugged at the corner of her lips as well as the mischievous glint that glazed through her innocent-looking, doe-like eyes that entire time. 

"You are my superhero, Granpa! I'm so glad I have someone as smart and as strong as you!"

And when Lady said that, Fallon finally lost it. 

Calixtus was taken aback when he suddenly let out more than one puff of breath against his shoulder. He then feels Fallon shaking as he clings to him tighter. 

Concerned, he pulled away from their embrace to take a look at him.

"Are you hurt, son? Cold?" he inquired while he examined him from head to toe. 

"I'm alright, Dad. Just a few scratches. But the medics already took care of it earlier," he answered, and when he saw him smile, he was surprised.

"You're... smiling."

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"Are you sure you're alright? Did you not hit your head?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's just that... You seem kind of happy. A little odd considering the situation. Did something happen?"

"O-Oh, ummm."

Fallon forgot that Calixtus was this observant and sharp.

He even tried to keep himself from snorting out loud because of Lady. But it seemed that he still got caught. Now, he has him worried over nothing. He can say that he just finds Maximilian's moping face amusing, but he doesn't want to come out like he's making fun of him.

So, he just shook his head and said, "It's nothing, Dad. Some things did happen. But it's fine now - Lady and I are."

"You really shocked me back there. Why did you go out without a bodyguard? Your mother and I were worried sick. I didn't even know that you're with your cousin that whole time. Didn't I tell you that I'd deal with it? There's no need to be impatient. Both of you are still very young."

"Wait, how did you even know that I did what you think I did?"

"I know my son better than anyone, of course. I'm your father."

Fallon stills right then, recalling what Lady said to Xavier earlier.

She revealed that the mastermind of this entire abduction was planning to get him assassinated so they could frame her father for the crime. Surprisingly, that did turn out to be the case. There's no doubt that an investigation will be conducted on this soon. However, even the kidnapper doesn't know the true identity of this boss of his. Neither of them does.

Yet, rather than the fact that this was the story behind this whole thing, Fallon was more stunned at the discovery that Lady was aware of what was going on – that she knew the truth for some reason he could not even guess. 

'Just how? Did she hear it from someone? Maybe eavesdropped on a conversation? But that'd be impossible if she just happened to learn about it tonight. She could've told Uncle Max and the others about it otherwise, but it seemed to me that the first time she revealed that was when we're with Xavier earlier…' he pondered deeply, mystified to a degree. 

'I've got a lot of questions for her, and right now, I don't think I should tell Dad about it unless Lady said it herself. It's either her or Xavier who should disclose it first.'   

Seeing Fallon think too deeply, Calixtus lets out a sigh.

He then embraces him again and lifts him off of the ground, earning a gasp from him. Before he protests, though, which he knows he will considering how he doesn't like it whenever he's seen being pampered, he tightens his hold around him and puts one of his hands on the back of his head. He then starts stroking his hair gently, comforting him.

"You can rest easy now, Fallon. Stop thinking. I'm sure you're very exhausted…" he reassured him, hugging him tighter in hopes he can share his body warmth with him and help him calm down. 

"Also, good job protecting Lady. I'm proud of you."

Fallon wanted to shake his head and deny that. It was Lady who protected him.

But at that moment, he suddenly locked eye contact with her, making him forget about it. She gives him an amused smile when she realizes that he is being carried like her. Her look slowly drifts close to teasing, which gives him the impression that whatever expression he has right now is probably showing everything he's thinking – he really isn't fond of all this mushy stuff.

But for tonight, Fallon let himself have it. If it wasn't for the soothing feeling that Calixtus was giving him and the calming effect that Lady's carefree attitude had on him, he probably won't. 

'Both of us did pretty well, huh?' Fallon thought, finally succumbing to sleep - with Lady's tired face being the last that he'd seen. 

---

"You're grounded."

Lady froze, shell-shocked.

It's been a week since she and Fallon were rescued from an attempted assassination. Now, she finds herself dealing with yet another predicament. Apparently, Maximilian has finally decided to stay with her at home – and actually live with her, for once. But she soon learned that she'd rather be alone than be with this unreasonably strict father of hers.

"What do you mean I'm grounded?! What did I do?!"

"You haven't realized it yet, I see. Shows just how much you're having fun these days."

Right now, Maximilian is being a total mood aside from being a total jerk. He's even doing it so early in the morning – right at breakfast when they're supposed to be chilling and all. Lady already has an idea as to why he's acting like this. But two can play in this game. She won't let him have the satisfaction of making others explain his actions for him.

"You were spending too much time with your grandparents, and whenever you're with me, you kept talking about that cousin of yours.. What does that make me, then? Didn't you know why I decided to take days off from work and come home earlier than usual? Everyone is going to think that we have an estranged relationship at this rate," came Maximilian's reason, much to Lady's annoyance.