Chapter 441

Sienna helped Isadora put on her hat and scarf, said a word, and went out.

The mother and daughter walked slowly. The snow from a couple of days ago hadn't melted yet, making crunching sounds under their feet.

Sienna asked her, "Mom, is there something you want to tell me?"

"Yes." Isadora grabbed her hand and tucked it into her own pocket. "Sienna, let's sell the house."

Sienna had been thinking about this too these past few days. Before knowing the truth, that house was her home, holding the happiest times of her past years. Even after learning the truth, at least Isadora's traces were still there. Either way, that house represented home to Sienna.

But for Isadora...

"Your father made a deal with the previous Q at the very end to spare my life."

Isadora's eyes filled with memories. "He always blamed himself for not being capable enough, and was afraid of dying too ordinary, so he told the previous Q that when you grew up, someone would need to keep you in check. So your father let me live, and gave you something to care about."

Sienna's eyes reddened.

Isadora touched her head, her voice choking up. "Your father understood you best."

Isadora brushed the hair from her forehead. "Sienna, when things reach a certain point, everyone makes different choices. Since fate has pushed us to where we are now, we can't change the past, so let's just look forward. You understand this better than anyone. Mom doesn't need to say much - you get it, right? That house, and the memories in it, we'll keep the good ones and forget the bad ones, okay?"

The two walked slowly, and in Isadora's pocket, she kept squeezing Sienna's hand. "Say something. Did you hear me?"

"I heard you." Sienna nuzzled her shoulder. "Mom, I heard from Ronan that you guys are planning to travel next year?"

Isadora laughed. "Your mother came back from the dead - shouldn't I go scare those old friends? Besides, I'm still young. I need to enjoy life."

Sienna joked with her, "You can enjoy yourself wherever you want. I'll support you. Worst case, I'll take out my wedding gift for you?"

Isadora tapped her hand inside the pocket. "Are you looking down on your mother? I'm still alive and perfectly capable of earning you another wedding gift."

"I don't need that much."

Sienna nuzzled her. "You, Simon, Chris - as long as you're all doing well, I'm happiest. As for money, I can just go find Russell."

Russell, who was wearing short sleeves and cursing the sun in Seaside City, suddenly shivered for no reason.

"Kelvin is a good kid."

Isadora smiled. "He told me the other day that his parents want to meet me. What do you think - should Mom meet them?"

Sienna grinned. "Why don't you meet them?"

Isadora beamed. "Alright then, I'll meet them."

The two slowly walked back. From far away, Sienna could see Kelvin's figure.

He was standing by the window upstairs, waving at Sienna.

Seeing him made Sienna happy. She couldn't help telling Isadora, "The first time I saw him, I just knew he'd have to fall for me."

Two days later happened to be Kelvin's birthday.

Kelvin didn't do anything else - he brought Sienna to officially meet his parents.

Steven and Emma had started deep cleaning two days ago, tidying up the house spotlessly. Emma even ordered lots of flowers and had been happily arranging them these past few days.

Kelvin was at work, receiving messages from Emma every few minutes, all asking about Sienna's preferences.

What did Sienna like to eat, what did she like to drink, should they get new plates - Kelvin couldn't keep up with replies.

By the day before his birthday, the messages finally stopped, but Emma called directly, insisting that Kelvin took time off.

The task force had been quiet lately. Isadora had been feeling much better recently and had resumed socializing. Sienna was busy being her driver. Ruben turned a blind eye and eventually just gave her a few days off.

Kelvin scanned the office. Arnold was watching "Sherlock Holmes" for the 108th time and was currently crying.

Kelvin didn't need to think to know he must be at a sad scene.

Leroy was watching a game, shouting "Good play!" one moment, screaming the next, then "Go!" - completely absorbed and animated.

Travis had just returned from the training gym. He'd already changed and was lying in his chair with earbuds in, doing who knows what.

Kelvin was a bit curious. He walked over and took out his earbud. "What are you doing? You've been so secretive lately."

Travis looked miserable. "New Year's is coming up - what do you think I'm doing?"

Kelvin suddenly understood, looking sympathetic as he put the earbud back. "Good luck."

Nothing else - Travis was in his thirties, and with longevity genes in his family, even in his thirties, he still couldn't escape the nightmare of performing at New Year's every year.

Kelvin remembered he played guitar last year - a desolate rendition of "Blackbird."

The year before, he played trumpet. That year was rough - he'd barely started playing when he nearly scared Dax to death and got beaten by Kieran so badly he couldn't get out of bed for three days.

Kelvin was about to leave, but got curious again. "What are you performing this year?"

"Singing." Travis smiled mysteriously. "The safest of the safe."

"What are you singing?"

Travis looked righteous. "Tomorrow Will Be Better!"

Kelvin gave a thumbs up. "Travis, you've got some hope in you."

Travis fumbled in his cabinet and pulled out a box. "Birthday present. Now get lost."

"You give it early every year. Are you completely cut off from romance or what?" Kelvin took the bag. "What good stuff is this?"

Travis was already ready to leave. "See for yourself."

Seeing the commotion, Arnold and Leroy rushed over, dropped their gifts, and returned to their happy corners. "Kelvin, this is all we can do for you. Happy birthday."

Leroy's team just scored a goal, making him nearly jump for joy. "Kelvin, hurry up and leave. Go pack your things. Tomorrow you're taking our Sienna to meet the parents!"

Kelvin opened the three gifts. That jerk Travis got him a complete hair care set. Leroy and Arnold were even more perfunctory - one gave him expensive hair gel plus a jar of face cream, the other gave him a box of hand cream.

Kelvin could understand the hair gel and face cream, but the hand cream made no sense at all.

After Travis and Leroy both ran off, Kelvin caught Arnold, who was slower. "Explain this hand cream to me. What does it mean?"

"Kelvin, you really don't understand my good intentions!"

Arnold even sounded a bit disappointed. "Count it yourself - how many years older are you than our Sienna?"

Kelvin's face darkened. "What are you getting at?"