Chapter 119: A Woman with a "Special" Christmas Surprise?
The roar of the Fenrir motorcycle was exceptionally loud on the quiet residential street, and Edward slowly pulled up in front of his garage, cutting the engine.
The engine let out one last reluctant rumble, then only the chirping of crickets remained.
He pushed open the garage door, parked his ride, and then casually walked into the house.
The living room was brightly lit, warm and inviting.
His father, John Connor, was sprawled on the couch, happily nursing a beer while watching a football game on TV.
His mother, Sarah, sat beside him, elegantly flipping through a fashion magazine.
Hearing the door open, both looked up.
"Hey, Edward, exchange program over already?" John raised his beer can with a smile.
"Yeah, wrapped things up there, so I came back early," Edward replied casually, slipping on his house shoes.
Sarah put down her magazine and looked at him warmly. "You must be exhausted from the trip. Want something to eat?"
"Nah, Mom, I grabbed something on the road," Edward said, his gaze sweeping to the other side of the living room.
The three girls noticed Edward's return.
Lily immediately dropped her doll and ran over on her little legs, sweetly calling out, "Big brother!"
Edward smiled and patted her head, then walked to the center of the living room, cleared his throat, and announced, "Of course, I brought back presents for everyone."
As soon as they heard "presents," all three girls' attention snapped to him.
He first picked up a beautifully wrapped gift box and handed it to Lily. "Lily, this is yours—the newest princess doll."
"Yay! Thank you, big brother!" Lily happily took it, tore open the wrapping right there, revealing an exquisitely crafted Barbie doll, and an angelic smile bloomed on her face.
John and Sarah watched with satisfaction, feeling their family warmth deepen even more.
Next, Edward pulled out the second gift—a thick book with an ancient, somewhat unsettling cover design.
He handed the book to Emma.
"Emma, this is for you—'360 Methods of Dissection.'"
In Emma's usually vacant eyes, a light called "joy" sparked for the first time.
She took the book, carefully tracing the gilded lettering on the cover with her fingers, and the ghost of a smile—barely there but undeniably real—curved at the corner of her lips.
"Thank you," her voice was soft but carried genuine satisfaction.
Sarah chimed in with a smile. "Emma's such a studious child—interested in human anatomy at her age. Maybe she'll become an excellent doctor like Maria's dad someday."
Edward smiled noncommittally, but inwardly thought, Yeah, except her focus might be less on saving people and more on taking them apart precisely.
Finally, he pulled out a beautifully packaged set of professional paintbrushes and handed them to Esther.
"Esther, these are your new brushes."
"Thank you, Edward," Esther politely accepted them, acting like a perfectly well-behaved, normal girl.
After distributing the gifts, the warm family atmosphere peaked.
However, Sarah's next words made Edward's smile freeze.
"Oh, Edward, now that you're back, there's something I need to tell you," Sarah closed her magazine, her expression turning serious. "This Christmas, your father and I are going to Europe for a romantic vacation."
Edward's stomach dropped, sensing incoming disaster.
"So..."
"So," Sarah said with a smile, delivering the cruelest blow possible, "I'm putting you in charge of Lily and the other two while we're gone."
"No way, Mom!" Edward groaned.
John added gleefully from the sidelines, "Son, believe in yourself! You got this! Great opportunity to build character and responsibility!"
He quickly drained the last of his beer, as if afraid of catching his son's resentment.
The next day, Edward still went to school looking dead inside.
Walking onto campus, the familiar atmosphere washed over him. The hallways were filled with energetic, lively students.
"Hey, Edward!" A figure suddenly threw an arm around his neck from behind—his buddy Frank.
"Just got back," Edward replied weakly.
"What's wrong? You look wiped. Was the academic pressure intense over there?" Frank asked curiously.
"Nah, I just have a premonition of a holiday more terrifying than hell itself."
Just then, a stunning figure appeared before them.
Jennifer, wearing her cheerleader uniform, showed off her perfect figure. The moment she appeared, she immediately drew the attention of every guy in the hallway.
But her eyes were only on Edward.
She walked straight up to him, gave him a big hug right there in front of everyone, then breathed into his ear in a voice only they could hear, "Master, you're finally back. I missed you so much~"
Edward patted her back, signaling her to dial it down a bit.
Not far away, Maria and Carrie spotted him too.
Maria's face lit up with surprise. She instinctively started to walk over, but seeing Jennifer's intimate display, she hesitated and stopped. Carrie beside her quietly encouraged her.
Ever since Alan had appeared and Edward had helped behind the scenes, Maria's personality had become much more cheerful and confident. She was no longer that timid girl who let people walk all over her.
"Hi, Maria, Carrie," Edward waved to them.
Maria then gathered her courage and walked over with Carrie.
"Edward, you're back."
"Yeah, how've you guys been?" Edward asked Carrie with a smile.
Carrie's face flushed slightly as she nodded. "Good. Lily... my sister helps me a lot, and now I can lift really heavy things."
She still thought Lily was just a cute little sister who also happened to have superpowers.
Edward raised an eyebrow, about to say something, when the class bell rang at the worst possible moment.
Everyone had no choice but to disperse and head to their respective classrooms.
The day's lessons were dull and tedious for Edward. He spent most of his time spinning his pen and thinking about how to survive the upcoming "Christmas."
After school, he declined Frank and Jennifer's invitations and walked alone to the parking lot.
However, just as he was about to reach his Fenrir motorcycle, a figure blocked his path.
It was a woman—a woman of devastatingly striking beauty.
She had cascading black hair, skin so pale it was almost translucent, and crimson lips that looked especially alluring in the setting sun. She wore an elaborate black Gothic dress, and her entire presence radiated mystery, danger, and fatal attraction.
It was Dorothy.
She just stood there, calmly watching Edward, her gaze filled with undisguised appraisal and... interest.
"Edward Connor," her voice carried a peculiar huskiness, like a feather gently brushing against one's heart. "Why haven't you come to see me in so long?"
Chapter Unlock Conditions
500 Power Stones → 1 Chapter
10 Reviews → 1 Chapter
25+ advance chapters on P4treon: DarkFoxx