At his office, Beast stared down at his phone, thoroughly taken aback.
Ethan wants intelligence on the Second Branch? Well, it's not like I actually planned on sending him there on his first run... Beast thought, stroking his chin in contemplation.
He tapped out a quick reply.
Beast: Drop by my office the day after tomorrow morning, Ethan. We'll discuss everything in detail then.
Ethan: Okay. Thanks, Uncle.
Ethan slid his phone back into his coat pocket. He wandered through the city streets for hours, lost in thought, before suddenly remembering that Daisy had texted him earlier asking to talk. Checking the time, he realized how late it had gotten and decided it would be better to head straight home.
Unlocking the door to the apartment, Ethan stepped inside to find his mother sitting on the sofa. The moment her eyes fell on him, her face lit up with a warm smile.
"You're back, Ethan! Are you hungry?"
Ethan smiled softly, nodding. "Yeah, a little."
Selena stood up with a gentle nod and headed into the kitchen to prepare a plate.
Ethan settled onto the sofa, a deep, comfortable warmth settling in his chest. He turned his head, watching his mother move about the kitchen, bustling quietly to care for him.
She really is the only person who gives everything... without ever asking for a single thing in return, Ethan thought to himself.
His mind briefly drifted back to a conversation he had once had with Madison, remembering his own words: 'Only a mother's love is truly unconditional...'
Ethan let out a quiet sigh, staring at the ceiling. "Yeah, that's true. You were completely right," he murmured under his breath.
"Ethan, dinner is ready!" his mother called out from the dining room.
Ethan stood up with a smile, stepping over to the table and taking a seat. Selena sat down across from him, serving the hot food.
Ethan looked across the table at his mother. "Mom, can I ask you something?"
"Of course," she replied, looking up.
"What was your mother like?" Ethan asked gently.
Selena's eyes softened, a fond, nostalgic smile gracing her lips. "My mother? She was a wonderful woman, Ethan. I learnt so much from her."
"Is she...?" Ethan let the sentence trail off delicately.
Selena gave a quiet nod. "Yes. She passed away a long time ago," she said, her eyes reflecting distant memories.
Ethan nodded in quiet understanding.
"Is something on your mind?" Selena asked, observing him closely.
Ethan shook his head. "No, nothing's wrong. I was just curious about the woman who raised you, Mom."
Selena smiled warmly, returning to her meal.
"Do you miss her?" Ethan asked softly after a moment.
"Of course I do," Selena smiled. "Who wouldn't miss their mother?"
Ethan nodded slowly.
"Look at Madison, for example," Selena continued, her voice gentle. "She's such a sweet girl. She barely even remembers her own mother, yet she still misses her deeply."
Ethan looked up, slightly surprised. "How do you know Madison misses her mother, Mom?"
"You didn't know?" Selena asked softly. "Madison's mother was a very close friend of mine. When she departed for Russia, I used to occasionally drop by to check on little three-and-a-half-year-old Madison. She would play with me for hours, almost like I was a second mother to her."
Ethan listened intently, nodding along.
"When Madison and Daisy became friends in high school, Madison was completely shocked to realize that Daisy was my daughter," Selena chuckled gently. Her eyes sparkled with fond recollection. "I still vividly remember when Madison was born. Just a few months after I had you, her mother called me from the hospital, holding little newborn Madison in her arms..."
Selena paused, her smile holding a quiet, tender weight.
"So you got married before Madison's mother did?" Ethan noted, doing the mental math.
Selena nodded. "Yes, almost like seven-eight years prior."
"Why all these sudden questions tonight, Ethan?" Selena asked, raising an eyebrow playfully.
"Just curious about the past, I guess," Ethan admitted. " Mother, How did you two become friends in the first place?"
"We lived near each other at first," Selena explained smoothly. "And as time passed, we naturally grew very close."
Ethan leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. "Mom... can you tell me what your life was like back then? How you really lived?"
Selena paused, searching his face. "Are you really that curious?"
Ethan nodded earnestly.
Selena let out a soft, airy breath, looking at her son with endless affection. "Well, my dear Ethan... my life... now that I look back on it, it felt so long, yet it passed by in the blink of an eye."
Ethan stayed silent, absorbing her words.
"You've probably already realized this yourself, but life waits for no one. It just keeps moving forward," Selena said softly, her voice serene and steady. "And before you even realize what's happening, you're left with nothing but memories."
"It's not as if my life was entirely unique," she added gently. "Hardships, struggles, and unexpected events happen to everyone. Even you and Daisy will experience times like that."
Selena reached across the table, placing her warm palm gently on top of Ethan's head, stroking his hair.
"But my son, we must keep the past where it belongs—in the past. Yes, learning from those experiences will guide you to your peak, but holding onto the pain of worse times will only chain you down."
Ethan nodded and focused back on eating his dinner.