As soon as Tarquin left, Evan sneaked out through the window.


    Outside, Scarface the big guy with a face full of scars-was already waiting for him. The two of them headed off together toward the gym.


    Evan looked troubled, like his mind was spinning with questions.


    Scarface was just about to ask what was wrong, ready to offer some advice, when


    Evan blurted out, "Hey, why is Dad always kissing Mom?"


    Scarface: “....." How was he supposed to answer that?


    He''d never been in love himself and couldn''t really wrap his head around why couples were so attached to each other.


    After thinking for a bit, he finally said, "I guess it''s ''cause he loves her."


    Evan frowned. "So when I grow up, am I gonna be like Dad? Always sticking to my wife and wanting kisses?"


    Scarface: "...Not necessarily."


    "Why not? You just said Dad kisses Mom ''cause he loves her. I''ll definitely love my wife, so I''ll want kisses every day too!"


    Scarface replied, "Well, you might not even find a wife."


    Evan''s eyes went wide. "No way! I''m so good-looking. If you and Bernard can''t find wives, that''s just ''cause you''re ugly. I''m not ugly!"


    Scarface: "..." Wow, nothing cuts deeper than a kid you care about!


    Was this little rascal even worth it?


    Evan suddenly beamed, caught up in his own daydream. "When I grow up, I''m gonna find the prettiest, kindest woman in the world, just like Dad. I''ll spoil her rotten! Ha ha..."


    Scarface found himself at a loss for words and started thinking maybe he should have a talk with Tarquin and Elysia.


    Couldn''t they keep their lovey-dovey stuff away from the kid?


    Tarquin and Elysia would probably protest: "We have no idea when he saw anything!"


    Scarface changed the subject. "So, how are we getting in? The gym charges for tickets."


    Evan grinned. "I''ve got an invite! Punikon sent it to me. He wants me to see his dad beat up my dad, in person."


    Scarface nodded, then added, "Just don''t do anything reckless when we get there. Keep a low profile, okay?"


    Evan shot back, "You always say Bernard is too timid, and now you''re telling me to be low-key?"


    The old man muttered under his breath, "Back then I only had to look after myself. Now, things are different."


    He had people he cared about now...


    Bernard was hiding out, faking his own death for some big secret-he couldn''t be exposed yet. And Evan well, Evan was the great hope of the local martirts world, but it wasn''t ume for him to step into theo spotlight, either.  s


    So, they were just here to watch the action-no grandstanding. They had to keep off the radar.


    Evan grinned, full of confidence, "You''re worried about me and Bernard, right, Uncle?"


    Scarface ignored him. "Race you! First one to the gym wins!"


    Before he''d even finished his sentence, Evan shot off like a rocket. "See you there, Uncle!"


    Scarface watched the kid''s small figure disappear down the block, his eyes full of affection.


    Once, his life had been just


    S and vengeance, like bet


    was already a ghost. Now, for the first time in years, he f felt alive.


    s


    Scarface started two minutes after Evan, but somehow arrived at the gym first.


    When Evan finally showed up, Scarface pointed to his watch. "You''re 399 secondste."<fnfce4> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n </fnfce4>


    Evan gawked, "How did you get here so fast? Did you cheat and n the route ahead of time?"


    Scarface shrugged. "If you were fast enough, you''d have beaten me even if I did. Gotta keep working, kiddo!"


    Evan pouted, but couldn''t argue. He clenched his fists. "Starting tomorrow, I''m adding an extra hour to training!"


    Scarface''s eyes lit up.


    These days, Evan was his whole world. When Evan went to preschool, Scarface waited outside. When Evan came home to Number One Mansion, Scarface watched over him there, too.  s