Adam leaned back in his chair, tension slowly melting from his shoulders as he exhaled, the deep breath a small concession to the night's whirlwind. His eyes drifted to Hao Jun, who sat across from him with a subtle, knowing smile.

"You don’t need to worry about any of this, Adam," Hao Jun said, his voice calm but filled with certainty. "I’ll take care of everything. The police, the authorities... they won’t be bothering you."

Adam exhaled again, this time in relief. "Thank you, Mr. Hao. I wasn’t sure how things would unfold after... well, after that."

Hao Jun waved a hand dismissively. "You saved my life, Adam. The least I can do is make sure you're not inconvenienced. None of you will be—neither you nor your family."

Isaac spoke, standing nearby, his brow creasing. "But what about security? Are my family safe?"

Hao Jun’s expression softened, his calm demeanor never faltering. "Security will be increased, of course. But for tonight, it’s safest if you all stay here, at my hotel. My team insists we don’t leave until morning."

Cassandra raised an eyebrow, the weariness in her face momentarily masked by skepticism. "You mean we’re all staying the night?"

"Yes," Hao Jun replied, leaning back with practiced ease. "I’ve already arranged everything. You’ll stay at the finest room in my hotel—the Presidential Suite. It’s the most secure place in the hotel, and it has plenty of space for all of you." He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to Ling. "Ling will stay with you too. The suite is more than large enough to accommodate everyone comfortably."

Adam exchanged a glance with his family. The mention of luxury didn’t concern him. What mattered more was the underlying promise in Hao Jun’s words—safety, control. He stood up, glancing at his parents. "I think it’s for the best. We shouldn’t take any risks after what happened tonight."

Isaac sighed, running a hand through his graying hair, the lines on his face deepening with concern. "You’re right. Better to stay somewhere secure."

"I’ll be handling the aftermath of the incident, so there’s nothing for you to worry about," Hao Jun continued as he stood. "Get some rest. I’ll speak with all of you first thing tomorrow."

The group gathered their belongings, and as they made their way through the hotel’s labyrinthine halls, the earlier violence felt distant, like a bad dream that clung to the edges of reality. Adam walked ahead, his eyes sharp and alert, though his thoughts churned beneath the surface. This wasn’t the worst he had seen—not by a long shot. He’d survived horrors far worse in the apocalypse, but his family didn’t know that. And they wouldn’t. Not yet.

As they gathered in the elevator, Nathan’s sidelong glances grew heavier with each passing floor. His emotions twisted—a knot of disbelief, confusion, and something darker... jealousy.

"I don’t know how you pulled that off," Nathan muttered under his breath, barely keeping his voice steady. "Since when did you become so... capable? You handled everything like it was nothing."

Adam shrugged, his tone casual despite the weight of his brother’s gaze. "I just did what I had to. I’m glad it worked out."

But Nathan wasn’t buying it. His hands trembled slightly as thoughts raced through his mind. Adam, his younger brother, had always been the one following him around, seeking approval. Now, in one night, Adam had outshone him—by far.

The respect Hao Jun showed him, the way Ling hovered near him, and the unspoken pride in their parents’ eyes all stung. The realization hit hard: Adam was far more capable than Nathan had ever imagined. And it infuriated him. It gnawed at him, twisting his thoughts as they made their way toward the Presidential Suite.

By the time they arrived, Nathan’s hands still hadn’t steadied, while Adam remained unaffected. The suite itself was grand—sprawling with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased a glittering skyline. Yet, for all its luxury, the space felt surreal. The chaos they had left behind lingered in the air, untouched by the grandeur surrounding them.

"Wow," Cassandra murmured as she stepped onto the terrace, eyes wide at the infinity pool shimmering beneath soft ambient lights. "This is... something else."

Isaac stood beside her, chuckling softly, though exhaustion tinged his smile. "You’re telling me."

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Nathan leaned against the terrace railing, eyeing the setup with disbelief. "A private pool? This is insane."

Adam’s gaze lingered on the smoking area, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. As his family took in the suite, Ling quietly approached him, her presence soothing against the night’s lingering tension.

"Would you like some coffee while you smoke?" she asked, her voice soft but laced with something deeper—perhaps a need to close the distance between them, to fill the silence.

Adam blinked, surprised by her attentiveness. "Yeah, that sounds good," he replied, his smile widening just slightly as he appreciated the gesture. He hadn’t been thinking of much beyond the moment, but the offer was nice. As he reached the smoking area, he lit a cigarette.

Ling left for the kitchen, and Adam watched her for a moment, an odd sense of satisfaction washing over him. He hadn’t expected anyone to notice his habits, let alone offer to make him coffee. It was... nice.

He stepped out onto the terrace, the cool night air brushing against his skin. As he took a slow drag from his cigarette, his thoughts drifted—not to the shootout, but to the life he had left behind. The apocalypse. He had seen worse, much worse. Fending off would-be killers was routine in that world, where survival depended on moments like this. Compared to those days, tonight felt almost insignificant.

After several minutes, his family followed him, the quiet settling over them like a comforting blanket.

Isaac was the first to speak, his arms crossed tightly as he tried to make sense of everything.

"Adam... how did you manage all of that back there?" His confusion was evident in his voice. "It wasn’t just luck, was it?"

Cassandra joined him, her expression mirroring her husband’s concern. Isaac sighed heavily as he continued, "Where did you learn to handle a situation like that? You didn’t even flinch."

Adam met his father’s gaze, calm but evasive. "I just reacted. You were all in danger. I wasn’t going to stand by and do nothing."

Nathan’s voice cut through the stillness, sharper than before. "You expect us to believe that? Come on... Since when are you this capable?" His eyes flashed with envy and frustration.

Adam tapped the ash from his cigarette, his expression unchanging yet careful not to meet his father's and mother's gaze. "It’s not something I think about. Maybe all those hours in VR-games paid off. Some of the reflexes must have translated."

Before the conversation could continue, Ling returned with a tray of steaming coffee mugs. She handed them out quietly, her hands shaking slightly despite her attempts to remain composed.

"I made coffee for everyone," she said with a soft smile, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her. "I figured it’s the least I could do since you saved my grandfather’s life—and probably mine too."

As she handed Adam his coffee, he gave her a small nod. "Thanks, Ling. I appreciate it. I only did what was right."

Ling smiled back, though her hands still trembled as she sipped from her own mug. Despite the outward calm, the night had clearly rattled her, as it had the rest of Adam's family.

Selene’s and Keira's hands shook as they reached for their mugs, Cassandra nervously stirred her drink absentmindedly, and even Isaac's grip on his cup was unsteady. Nathan didn't drink his coffee, but it was clear he was involuntarily shaking at regular intervals.

Only Adam remained composed, his posture relaxed as he exhaled another cloud of smoke into the cool night air. The silence stretched on, thick with unspoken questions and tension, until Ling stepped closer to him, her movements slow, but deliberate. She stopped just a step away from him, her eyes hesitant but filled with admiration and gratitude. She hoped Adam wouldn’t mind, but the calmness he radiated was something she needed right now.

"I just need to be close to you," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if the words carried a weight she hadn’t expected.

Adam could feel her need for comfort, and with care, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her gently into his side. "Sorry about the smell of smoke," he murmured softly, but Ling shook her head, leaning into him, her cheek brushing against his chest.

"I don’t mind," she whispered back. "I just feel safer like this."

As Adam lit another cigarette, Cassandra frowned, stepping closer with concern etched into her face. "Adam, smoking is terrible for your health. You should stop."

Before Adam could respond, Isaac placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice gentle but firm. "Let him be, Cass. After what he just went through, I think he deserves a break."

Cassandra hesitated, torn between her instinct to protect and Isaac’s reasoning. Eventually, she sighed. "Fine. Just... don’t make it a habit, okay?"

For Adam, the craving for nicotine stems more from the memories of smoking during his past life in the apocalypse than from any lingering chemical dependence.

Adam gave his mother a faint smile. They didn’t know what he knew—that soon, when the Global Awakening came, an Awakened bodies would evolve in ways that made the side effects of these small vices meaningless. But for now, he let it slide. He took another slow drag, the smoke curling lazily into the night as the weight of the evening began to dissipate.

Isaac watched his son carefully, a mixture of awe and relief in his voice. "I don’t know how you managed all this, Adam, but... we’re lucky to have you."

Cassandra nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with pride. "We are."

Nathan remained silent, his gaze flickering between his brother and his parents. The jealousy still gnawed at him, even as he forced a smile. "Yeah, thanks for protecting us."

For a moment, the family sat together in peaceful silence, the night's chaos slipping further into the background. But for Adam, a part of him remained on edge. It wasn’t the assassination attempt that worried him—he knew how to handle threats like that. The real danger was coming soon... for all of them.

Tonight, though, they were safe. Together. And for now, that was enough.