Nick had no idea his words would set his mother off like that. He jumped up, flustered, and ran a hand through his hair. "Mom, you didn''t let me finish. I... I''m actually nning to stay for good this time."


    Delh, still sniffling and with eyes red from tears, stared at him. "What did you just say? Can you repeat that?"


    With patience, Nick repeated, "I''m not nning on leaving again."


    "But your suitcase is so light," Delh worried, fearing he was just saying it tofort her.


    "I intended toe back, but the paperwork isn''t sorted yet. That''s why I didn''t bring much this time," Nick exined.


    "So, you might change your mind at thest minute?" Delh''s voice was tinged with worry.


    "Nick''s decided toe home; that''s settled then," Shawn chimed in with relief. Despite Nick''s years living abroad, he knew his son''s determined nature well.


    "Well, if that''s the case, you''re not going back. Let Chester handle the paperwork," Delh insisted, her years of longing for Nick''s return making her anxious.


    As she reached into her pocket to make a call, Shawn swiftly snatched her phone. "It''s the dead of night over at Emmitt''s. It''s not the right time to call."


    Caught up in her desire to keep Nick close, Delh had forgotten the time difference. She pped her forehead in realization.


    After triple-checking with Nick about his ns to stay, Delh finally felt her heart settle.


    Before long, she stood up and made her way to the kitchen, where a pot of soup was simmering.


    Knowing how stirred up she was, Shawn followed her to the kitchen to offer support.


    Now, the living room was left to the siblings.


    Mirabe sat quietly, a good distance from Nick, her demeanor gentle and demure.


    Nick couldn''t help but recall how Mirabe always kept a meter''s distance when she visited him. After much thought, he concluded she must have been worried about his health.


    Breaking the silence, he offered an exnation, "Mirabe, I''m not sick. My pale skin is just from spending too much time in theb without sunlight."


    Mirabe was taken aback by his suddenment, her gaze shifting to him in confusion.


    Clearing his throat, Nick, though embarrassed, was a man of direct words. "You don''t have to keep a meter away from me."


    Coming to her senses, Mirabe raised an eyebrow and nced at Zach across the room.


    She remembered Zach''s repeated warnings to keep her distance from Nick during her visits because he supposedly disliked people getting too close.


    Catching his sister''s menacing nce, Zach shivered involuntarily.


    A meter''s distance, a meter''s... As something dawned on him, Zach abruptly


    stood up. "Ah, I should probably go help in the kitchen."


    With that, he made a beeline away from the scene, as if any dy would spell his doom.


    Terrifying, to face such an unexpected turn of events.


    Nick watched, puzzled, as Zach beat a hasty retreat.