Before Tarquin could respond, Wyatt grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward the living room.


    Dane quickly wiped his tears, but as he moved to follow, Lowell stopped him. "Let them talk alone for a bit."


    Dane frowned. "They know each other?"


    Lowell replied, "...They have a history."


    Dane was shocked. "So you only got close to me to get to Wyatt?"


    Lowell looked apologetic. "..."


    Dane had genuinely treated him as a friend, but Lowell''s intentions hadn''t been pure; he''d approached him with an ulterior motive.


    Dane''s breathing grew heavy, his brow furrowed. "Who are you people?!"


    Guilt-ridden, Lowell said, "I''m very sorry for using your brother and making you worry. As for everything else... we can talkter. We really don''t mean you any harm."


    Dane was speechless. "..."


    Inside the living room, Wyatt was overwhelmed with emotion, pointing at a photo of Dane''s father. "Him... he..."


    Tarquin nced at the old photo, then pulled out his phone. From an encrypted folder, he brought up a group photo for Wyatt to see.


    Wyatt snatched the phone from his hand.


    He looked back and forth between the group photo on the phone, the old picture on the wall, and Tarquin.


    He did this several times before his gaze finally settled on Tarquin.


    His eyes red, his lips trembling, he asked Tarquin, "What''s... what''s your name?"


    "Tarquin. And this was my father, Kendrick."


    Wyatt''s breath hitched. "!"


    He stared at Tarquin, his eyes growing redder. "Then what are you doing here?"


    Tarquin answered truthfully, "I''m looking for something my father left behind." Wyatt immediately asked, "What is it?"


    Tarquin''s tone was serious. "Something that was more important to my father than his own life."


    Wyatt''s pupils dted. After what felt like an eternity, he broke down. "You came! You came! You finally came! I''ve been waiting for you for over twenty years!" he wailed, sobbing uncontrobly.


    Tarquin''s heart tightened. He''d found the right person.


    Wyatt gestured with his hands, his lower lip quivering with every word. "Twenty years! Over twenty years! Ive been ying the fool waiting f?r you forover twenty years! You''re finally here!" He broke down, the decades of suppressed grief finally pouring out of him.


    Wyatt cried his heart out while Tarquin''s face grew solemn. "You''ve worked hard."


    Wyatt shook his head. "It wasn''t


    hard! I''m not afraid of hardship. I


    was just afraid td end up like Dane''s dad waiting until the day died. without you ever showing up! wouldn''t have been able to rest in peace!"


    "There''s been this heavy weight on my chest this whole time..."


    Tarquin pulled out a tissue for Wyatt and helped him sit down. "I know Dane''s father


    knew my father. Did you know him as well?"


    Wyatt wiped his tears and looked at Tarquin. "You don''t recognize me?"


    Tarquin studied Wyatt for a few seconds, then shook his head. "No."


    Wyatt sighed. "Right, right. Thest time I saw you, you were just learning to walk.


    You were so little, of course you wouldn''t remember me."


    Tarquin was surprised. "You''ve met me?"


    Wyatt nodded. "I have! In Alerasia!"


    Tarquin quickly asked, "Karl Town?"


    Wyatt shook his head. "I was in downtown Alerasia. Mr. Bradford was in Karl Town. One time, he and your mother were out shopping with you, and we ran into each other. I even held you."


    Tarquin''s expression turned grave. "So you''re the one who brought it back?"


    Wyatt nodded. "Yes, that was me!"


    Tarquin was silent. "..."


    Wyatt''s expression grewplex as he recalled the events of the past. "One day, over twenty years ago, Mr. Bradford came to me out of the blue. He said he had something he needed me to bring to Dnthat''s Dane''s father."


    "He said the item was extremely important, more important than his own life!"