Chapter 8 Tears of Reunion

• "But he looks nothing like he did when he was younger," Madeline said, frowning as she scrutinized Finnley like an X-ray machine.
• "That's because you're not looking closely enough," Melanie replied, stepping forward and gently grabbing Finnley's head. "Look, here's the mole next to his eye. And see this jawline? His lip shape? He looked like a doll when he was young, and now he's grown into a fine young man."
• Melanie's serious analysis made Finnley a little embarrassed.
• "Are you really Finn?" Madeline asked, blinking, still feeling a little doubtful.
• "Of course!" Finnley nodded. "Didn't you once say you'd marry me when I grow up? You even made me a ring out of dandelion stems, and that day we played house, you made me 'marry' you."
• At the mention of this childhood embarrassment, Madeline's face turned bright red. She rushed over and clamped her hand over Finnley's mouth. "Okay, okay! I believe you! Just stop talking!"
• Finnley couldn't help but laugh, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
• "Finn?"
• A cold, somewhat menacing voice suddenly echoed across the room, sending a shiver down his spine. He froze on the spot, his body stiff as if caught in a stop-motion animation, slowly turning around, frame by frame.
• "N-Noelle…"
• He swore to himself that if he had known from the get-go that the policewoman chasing him down was Noelle, he would never have messed with her as he did.
• "You rascal, some nerve you have messing with your sister like that. You've grown quite a pair, haven't you?" Noelle strode toward him and knocked him on the head, giving him a classic "love tap."
• As a kid, Finnley had always been terrified of Noelle. She was strict and tough, especially with him. Among all his sisters, Noelle was the fittest and had been responsible for training him. Every day at 5.30 a.m., she dragged him out of bed, and if he didn't meet his training goals, she'd slap his palms as punishment.
• "I'm really disappointed in you, Finn. I can't believe you've picked up such bad habits out in the world! Flirting with girls; really?" Noelle fumed, remembering how Finnley had forced her to call him "darling husband" when she was stuck in that sewage pit. She was still boiling with anger and wanted to give him a good scolding.
• Young Finnley was like a mouse seeing a cat whenever facing Noelle. Even though he was now grown and far stronger than her, the fear she'd instilled in him remained. He plastered a pitiful look on his face and shook his head. "It was all a misunderstanding, Noelle!"
• "A misunderstanding?"
• "Alright, that's enough now. Finn just got back. Don't scare him off." Melanie stepped in, shielding Finnley.
• "You always do this, Mel. If this rascal doesn't suffer a little, he won't know how to behave."
• Though Melanie often appeared cold, she always shielded Finnley, unable to bear seeing him hurt in any way.
• "Isn't it enough that he's alive?"
• Melanie's words struck a chord with both Madeline and Noelle, leaving them momentarily silent.
• Madeline's eyes suddenly filled with tears, and unable to hold back any longer, she threw herself into Finnley's arms, bawling like a child. "Finn! You have no idea how awful it's been without you. I woke up every day thinking of you. I missed you so much!"
• Noelle, though less dramatic, also wiped away a tear, her usually composed demeanor breaking just a little.
• Finnley had thought his heart had grown cold, indifferent to emotions. But seeing his sisters crying tears of joy because he was alive made him feel a tremor deep in his soul.
• Madeline clung to him tightly, and Finnley, smothered by her embrace, struggled to breathe under the softness pressing against him.
• "Alright, Finn's had a long day and hasn't even had a proper meal yet. Let him breathe," Melanie intervened. Only then did Madeline, still sniffling, reluctantly release him.
• "Mel's right!" Finnley gasped, taking in a much-needed breath of air, glad to escape from his sister's pair of melons.
• "Finn, do you have a place to stay tonight? If not, you can stay here with me," Melanie offered.
• Having just returned, Finnley didn't have anywhere to stay. Sure, he could book a hotel or buy an apartment, but why do that when he could stay with his sisters?
• "I don't have a place yet," Finnley admitted.
• "Alright, I'll get a room ready for you."
• "Mel, prepare a room for me too! I want to stay over tonight. I have so much to talk about with Finn!" Madeline, still wide-eyed with excitement, couldn't seem to look away from Finnley.
• Her attitude had changed so quickly—she had been a prickly little hedgehog before she realized who he was, and now she'd transformed back into her soft, gentle self.
• "Mel, I'll stay here tonight as well," Noelle added, casting a glance at Finnley. "You've been keeping up with your training, haven't you? You were running pretty fast earlier. Let's spar tomorrow morning."
• Finnley's heart sank at the thought. Can I refuse?
• "Alright, let's have a proper reunion tonight!"
• That night, Finnley underwent what felt like an interrogation. His three sisters bombarded him with questions, determined to uncover every detail of his life over the years.
• Finnley shared bits and pieces of his story but kept much of his current identity and abilities hidden, only telling them about his hardships, drifting from place to place, and how he had eventually found his way back.
• The girls were heartbroken by his story. They looked at Finnley with sorrowful eyes, silently vowing to protect him from any future harm.
• The next morning, Madeline had to return to her company to deal with the fallout of losing so many followers. Noelle had her shift at the police department, and Melanie had paperwork to finalize following her resignation from the Fallow family business.
• "Finn, stay home for now, alright? When Maddie gets back in the afternoon, she can take you out to explore," Melanie instructed before they all left.
• But Finnley had other plans. He wanted to visit his childhood home, the place where his parents had lived. It had been so long since he had been there, and the memory of his family weighed heavily on his heart.
• After leaving the house, Finnley hailed a cab and made his way to the old neighborhood. However, when he arrived, he found that what should have been his family's home had been replaced by a towering skyscraper.