As for Rowan Wheatly, Billy laid out two paths for him. First, he could stick around Heartbreak Valley, securing a decent spot under Scarletwind Cohen’s wing. The other option? Trail Soul Chaser to the SHADOW in the Western District and step into the role of Deputy Inspector.
Rowan Wheatly wasted no time. He zeroed in on the second choice. Working alongside Commander Gardner was a dream actualized, an opportunity too sweet to pass up.
Around four in the afternoon, Billy and his crew rolled back into Ozin SHADOW. By five in the evening, Billy had swung by his own abode.
Earlier at SHADOW, he’d buzzed Harleen. She was locked into a crucial meeting and would be home fashionably late. Felicia, catching wind of Casey and Night Orchid’s Ozin presence, had hustled over to SHADOW to catch up with the gang.
“Papa!” Tasha zoomed toward him the minute he stepped in.
“Behaving well at home, Tasha?” Billy grinned as he hoisted her up.
“You bet! Grandma and Grandpa can’t stop praising me!” Tasha replied, her tiny hands settled on Billy’s shoulders.
“Haha, Tasha, you’re a champ!” Billy gave the little one’s head a gentle pat.
“Billy, you’re back. Take a load off; dinner’s cooking,” Sharon strolled out of the kitchen, eyeing Billy. “Why the lone ranger act? Didn’t Harleen mention you’d have a few pals over for supper?”
“They’re wrapping up some business, they’ll swing by later. I swung by early to see if I could lend a hand.” Billy flashed a grin.
“No trouble at all. Y’all come on over for dinner, I’m thrilled!” Sharon reciprocated the smile.
“Thanks, Mom!” Billy grinned again. “And where’s Dad? Done with the grind, or is he still on the clock?”
“Just called him. Asked him to haul back once he clocks out. No overtime tonight; he’s heading back for a drink or two with you,” Sharon conveyed, heading kitchenward. “I’m on cooking duty. Go hang with Tasha.”
“Okay!” Billy agreed with a smile.
“Papa, can you tell me a story first?” Soon after, Tasha pulled Billy to the sofa.
“Sure!” Billy agreed and began telling a story to his little girl. He cherished these rare moments of parent-child bonding and enjoyed playing with Tasha.
About an hour later, after finishing her meeting, Harleen returned home.
“Honey!” Upon entering the house, she looked at Billy affectionately and called out.
“Hey, is work over?” Billy responded with a smile.
“Mama, come quickly! Let’s build a castle with Papa.” Tasha exclaimed loudly.
“Tasha, sweetie, you play with Papa. I’ll help Grandma,” Harleen smiled gently.
“Okay, after dinner, you can play with us.” Tasha responded.
“Sure!” Harleen smiled again and looked at Billy, “Honey, I’ll check if Mom needs any help in the kitchen.”
“Okay!” Billy responded with a smile.
Half an hour later, Fletcher returned home, warmly greeted Billy, and then busied himself in the kitchen.
Casey and the others entered the house about fifteen minutes after Fletcher. When Tasha saw Stout, she dropped her toys and ran towards him.
“Uncle Stout, lift me up high!”
“Haha, sure!” Stout bent down, lifted Tasha, and tossed her into the air.
“You must be Tasha?” After Stout put Tasha down, Night Orchid smiled and addressed her.
“Auntie, are you Dad’s friend too? You’re so pretty!” Tasha looked at Night Orchid like a little adult and said.
“Thank you, Tasha!” Night Orchid smiled, patting the little girl’s head. “Tasha, you’re also very pretty. You’ll be a beautiful lady like your mom when you grow up!”
“I want to be even more beautiful than Mom!” Tasha responded in a sweet voice.
“Hahaha…” Everyone burst into laughter.
“Orchid, Casey, you’re here!” Harleen, hearing the commotion, came out of the kitchen.
Having talked to Billy on the phone earlier, she knew Night Orchid and Casey were also coming to Ozin, so seeing them was not a surprise.
Casey and the others greeted simultaneously.
“Please make yourselves at home!” Harleen smiled.
“Thank you, Harleen!” Night Orchid responded with a smile. “If you need anything, I’ll help you.”
“No need, it’ll be done quickly!” Harleen smiled again, then looked at Felicia. “Felicia, what are you standing there for? Quickly pour some tea for everyone.”
“Sure!” Felicia stuck out her tongue and got busy.
At this point, Fletcher and his wife finished their tasks and walked out together.
“Mr and Mrs Knight!” Casey and the others greeted simultaneously.
“Haha, everyone’s here and doing well!” Fletcher laughed.
“Who is this?” Sharon, after greeting Casey and the others, looked at Night Orchid and asked.
Since the New Year’s Eve, Night Orchid had stayed in the capital and hadn’t come to Ozin, so this was the first time the couple had seen her.
“Mom, this is Night Orchid. Just call her Orchid!” Harleen introduced.
“Mr and Mrs Knight, nice to meet you. Sorry for the trouble!” Night Orchid greeted with a smile.
“No trouble at all. You’re here to eat at our home; Rain and I welcome you!” Sharon smiled in response.
“Please have a seat, dinner will be ready in ten minutes!”
After saying that, Sharon, Fletcher and Harleen returned to the kitchen.
About fifteen minutes later, everyone sat around the dining table. After a brief opening speech by Fletcher, they raised their glasses and started the meal. During the meal, they toasted and chatted, creating a joyful atmosphere. Sharon kept serving dishes to everyone, showing great hospitality. Fletcher kept toasting with everyone, and in less than an hour and a half, he was quite tipsy and went back to his room, falling asleep.
Around nine o’clock in the evening, the dinner ended. After helping clean up the dining room, everyone gathered in the living room to chat.
“Orchid, you work in the capital. Are you from there?” Sharon poured tea for everyone and asked Night Orchid.
“Auntie Sharon, I’m not from the capital. Although my family is in the north, it’s quite a distance from the capital.” Night Orchid smiled.
“Orchid, where is your family? Is it also in the mountains like Casey’s?” Felicia asked curiously.
“Indeed!” Night Orchid smiled again.
“In the mountains?” Sharon raised an eyebrow.
“Why don’t you bring your family to the capital to live with you? Wouldn’t it be inconvenient for them to live in the mountains?”
Harleen covered her mouth and chuckled, then looked at Sharon and spoke.
“Mom, Orchid is from a prestigious family, just like Casey. They are from a prominent sect, not the kind of people you think who live in the mountains.”
She hadn’t asked Billy about the background of comrades around him. But with her intelligence, after a few interactions, it was easy for her to guess that their birth was definitely not from an ordinary family.
“What is a prestigious sect?” Sharon raised an eyebrow again.
“Mom, don’t ask so many questions.” Felicia interjected.
“You wouldn’t understand even if we told you. Anyway, it’s a powerful and wealthy family, much stronger than these big families in Ozin.”
“Oh, I see.” Sharon had a basic concept now.
“Felicia, my family is not as exaggerated as you say.” Night Orchid smiled and said, “But, Casey’s family is indeed considered a prestigious and wealthy family!”