A week had passed since they left Derry. During those days, after learning that Art the Clown had come back to life, Liam and Carrie never stopped moving. They walked through streets, talked to people, observed suspicious places. However, they didn't find a single clear clue about where he might be. With each passing day, the feeling of frustration and urgency grew heavier.
In the end, they had no choice but to leave. Before departing, Liam spoke seriously with Sienna's family and with Allie, looking each of them in the eyes, his tone firm and leaving no room for argument. He advised them that, if possible, they should move somewhere else. The farther they were from that town, the harder it would be for Art the Clown to find them when he returned. He also insisted very clearly on one thing: never let their guard down and prepare themselves mentally and physically for the moment when the clown decided to attack again. And if there was time, if they ever saw the clown, they should call him—he would try to get there in time if he was nearby.
Now they were in New York, standing in front of the house of one of Mom's cousins. He was someone she had been very close to back in high school. As she looked at the place, Margaret remembered that it had been her who suggested staying there. Her cousin had invited them as soon as he found out they had left Derry, showing concern and a willingness to help.
Liam had agreed after thinking it over for a while. He had remained silent for several minutes, his gaze lost, weighing every possibility. In any case, he had already planned to go to New York to begin his investment plans.
His ideas were clear in his mind and had been for a long time. First, he planned to invest in Nevada, buying land with large amounts of gold that would not be discovered until the future thanks to more advanced technology. Liam knew that, in this world where technology was more advanced than normal, it was already possible to obtain the necessary means to exploit those places that had not yet been officially discovered.
He planned to use his mother's ten years of savings from working in Derry to buy the mining rights to a place that, in the future, would be called Goldrush. They had sixty thousand dollars to invest. Forty-five thousand would be used to buy the mining rights to the entire core area of the site, and the other fifteen thousand dollars would be used to acquire the necessary equipment to extract the gold found there.
Liam also had two other locations in mind where, in his previous life, large amounts of gold had been found years later. However, for now he didn't have enough money to invest in them. His plan was clear and patient: start with Goldrush, and once he could liquidate the gold obtained, buy the mining rights to the other two locations.
With those three sites exploited, Liam knew he would easily become one of the richest people in the world. The profits from that gold could reach tens of billions of dollars. Even so, he wasn't foolish enough to flood the market and cause the price of gold to fall. He planned to sell little by little over the years. In addition, he had the idea of opening a bank to generate constant income in dollars.
With all that, he could invest in companies he knew would become enormous in the future, or even create his own companies that didn't yet exist but whose potential he understood perfectly. Ideas that, he was sure, would shape the future. All of that, however, was a long-term plan.
Liam snapped out of his thoughts when he lifted his gaze and looked at the small mansion in front of them. He stood still for a few seconds, observing it carefully.
It wasn't old, nor did it have that worn-down air of the past. Everything about it spoke of modernity and well-invested money. The façade was built with clean, defined lines, an elegant mix of light stone, polished concrete, and large panels of dark glass that reflected the sky. There were no unnecessary decorations; every detail seemed intentionally placed.
The windows were large, stretching from floor to ceiling, letting soft interior lights show through, contrasting with the exterior. A minimalist balcony extended from the second level, with matte black metal railings. The flat, geometric roof reinforced the contemporary design, distancing it completely from any classic or old-fashioned style.
The driveway was made of perfectly aligned rectangular slabs, surrounded by immaculate grass and small recessed ground lights that illuminated the path. On either side, precisely trimmed shrubs and the occasional ornamental tree gave off an almost excessive sense of order.
It wasn't a gigantic mansion, but it was large enough to command respect. More than ostentatious luxury, it conveyed power, control, and a clear idea: whoever lived there didn't improvise anything.
"Mom, your cousin really seems to know how to live a good life." Liam said as he crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly, observing the place with a mix of curiosity and analysis.
Margaret let out a small nasal laugh and gently shook her head before replying. "Well, he wasn't forced to get married right after finishing high school, losing all control of his life. And according to what he told me, he started a company that was very successful, married someone he fell in love with, had a son, a happy life." Liam's mother said, a hint of jealousy in her voice, but also a sincere smile, happy for the life her cousin had managed to build.
Carrie took a few steps forward and raised her arm, pointing enthusiastically toward the second level of the house. "I want the room to the right of the balcony." She said without hesitation, smiling decisively, as if she had already claimed it.
Liam turned his head toward her and raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms calmly. "Easy, Carrie. We don't even know which rooms are available yet. Let's go inside first." He said in a patient but firm tone.
With that, Margaret took her phone out of her bag, took a deep breath, and dialed a number. She brought the phone to her ear and waited a few seconds before speaking. "Hi, Edward, we just arrived. We're at the entrance of your mansion." Margaret spoke a bit more with Edward, nodding several times as she listened, before hanging up, her expression noticeably more relaxed.
"He's coming out." Margaret said as she slowly lowered the phone, putting it back into her bag. Her shoulders relaxed a little, and she let out a small sigh, as if she could finally release the tension built up from the trip.
A few minutes later, the main door opened and a middle-aged man appeared, walking confidently toward them. He had short blond hair, an attractive face marked by a neatly trimmed beard, and blue eyes that conveyed confidence. His body was clearly in shape, and at approximately one meter and eighty centimeters tall, his straight posture and smile made him look both imposing and charismatic.
At his side walked a middle-aged woman who clearly took great care of her appearance, enough to make her look even younger than she was. She had black hair cut to shoulder length, an attractive face, and a body that would make many young women die of envy. She was about one meter sixty-five tall, and the elegant, confident way she walked immediately made one think she came from a high-status family.
One step behind them walked a man and a woman who radiated professionalism in every movement. From their bearing and clothing, it was evident that they were a butler and a housekeeper, both attentive, discreet, and silent.
"Margaret, how many years it's been since I last saw you." Edward said with a broad smile, opening his arms slightly, happiness clearly evident in his voice.
"Yes, I'm glad to see you. A lot has happened." Margaret replied, returning the smile, her eyes shining sincerely at the reunion.
Edward shifted his gaze to Liam and looked him up and down with interest. "So this is your son Liam. At fifteen, he's already taller than me—he's going to be a giant in a few years." He said with a small laugh, surprised as he analyzed him.
Then his attention moved to Carrie. "And this is his little girlfriend Carrie, whom you took custody of about five years ago because her mother was no longer capable." Edward whistled in admiration, crossing his arms. "Liam, it seems you inherited the family's taste for girls that other men can only dream of getting."
Carrie immediately lowered her head, bringing her hands together in front of her, visibly embarrassed by the comment. Her cheeks turned red, and she avoided the adults' gaze.
Seeing her reaction, Liam smiled calmly and wrapped an arm around Carrie, pulling her closer in a protective gesture. "Well, I was lucky she chose me." He said naturally, squeezing her gently at his side.
"Let me introduce you to my wife, Alice." Edward said, turning slightly and pointing toward the woman beside him with pride.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope our home will be to your liking from now on." Alice said with a polite smile, lightly clasping her hands in front of her.
"The pleasure is ours. Thank you for welcoming us." Liam, Carrie, and Margaret said almost at the same time, in a respectful tone.
"Come on, let's talk while we go inside." Edward said, turning and gesturing with his hand for them to follow.
Liam and the others walked behind Edward and Alice as they chatted calmly. Upon crossing the entrance, the interior of the mansion opened before them, leading them into a spacious, bright living room filled with carefully arranged luxuries, without feeling excessive.
Once seated, Edward settled into the couch and continued the conversation in a casual tone. "How lucky you were that your husband died in an accident. From the calls we had, I could tell just by your voice that life was getting better for you with each passing year." He said as he looked at Margaret attentively.
"Yes, I can't imagine how horrible my life would have been if he hadn't died." Margaret spoke with relief, letting out a slight bitter laugh before casting a quick glance at Liam, who was sitting next to Carrie.
"If your life had continued like that, I would have intervened, even if I had to pull some strings." Edward said seriously, crossing his arms.
"Thank you, but those five years and the ten that followed taught me that I wasn't the best person either. I changed because of what I lived through, and I'm grateful for that." Margaret said calmly, lowering her gaze slightly before lifting it again.
Edward nodded slowly. "Well, let's stop talking about the past." He said, clearing his throat before changing the subject. "My son is currently working for the president. That stubborn kid didn't want to learn how to run the company and insisted on becoming a police officer, and because of a difficult situation he went through, he ended up working for the president in the end." Edward shook his head, clearly frustrated.
"Liam, my son Leon is twenty-five years old. I hope you get along when he comes back. He needs close friends to share his problems with. As cousins, you should get along well and support each other." Edward said in a tone full of concern.
Hearing the name, Liam fell silent for a moment. Leon. One of the most beloved protagonists of Resident Evil… and now it turned out he was his cousin. His expression didn't change much, but inside he was completely shocked. He hadn't thought that the last name Kennedy could connect him to Leon, and among so many Kennedys, being his cousin seemed unlikely.
Even so, Liam simply nodded, maintaining his composure as he processed the information.
"Well, I hope you take care of him. That annoying son of mine doesn't share his problems with us even though we're his parents. I hope that with someone closer to his age, he'll open up a bit more so he doesn't face everything alone." Edward said with a sigh.
"He's currently on a mission in Spain. He'll probably be back in a month from that mission. I'm entrusting my son to you." Edward added, looking directly at Liam.
"Leave him to me." Liam said, having already overcome his surprise. His voice sounded confident and firm. The truth was that he liked Leon even before meeting him and wouldn't mind becoming his friend. Besides, he knew that relationship could be beneficial for both of them. Deep down, he also longed to have people he could call family. Right now, there was only Carrie… and the confusing, limited affection he felt for his mother, even if he didn't want to admit it.
Liam knew that if his mother had wanted to cause him problems when he was younger, it wouldn't have been difficult. He also knew that she truly regretted how she treated him during his early years. Even so, he still didn't feel ready to forgive her completely.
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Autor Note: Help me with some reviews and stones