章節 6: Aria(The Cutest Daughter)
"Jack!" she cried, her voice barely more than a whisper, as she flung herself into Jack's arms. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her hair as he fought to keep his emotions in check.
"Are you okay, Sophie?" Jack asked, his voice thick with emotion. "Did they hurt you? Did they do anything to you?"
The girl shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "No, Jack. They didn't hurt me. I was scared, but I knew you'd come for me."
Jack let out a sigh of relief, his entire body trembling with the effort to hold back the torrent of rage and pain that threatened to consume him. He held his friend close, vowing silently to himself that he would never let anything happen to her again.
After a few moments, Jack pulled back slightly, looking down at his friend's tear-streaked face. "Sophie, we need to get out of here," he said gently. "Are you ready to go home?"
The girl nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "Yes, Jack. I want to go home."
Jack stood up, lifting his childhood friend into his arms. With a thought, she disappeared into the pocket space within the bead, where he had created a house. The world inside the bead was astonishing, complete with a sky, atmosphere, land, grass, and sea. It was a safe haven, a place where Sophie would be protected and cared for.
As Sophie settled into the house within the bead, Jack's mind raced with the events that had led to this moment. He was too ashamed to admit it, but he was too weak to openly fight against Chinjao when he had a country and a Navy behind him. When he openly purchased his childhood friend from a slave trader that kidnapped her when he was away, his only chance was to amass the money he was asked to in exchange for his friend. It was two years ago, and since then, he had never seen her. Luckily, he was quick and Chinjao was keeping her for his son. And the slave traders wanted to keep her pure to not lower the price, so she wasn't hurt.
Now, as he stood in the dimly lit chamber, he couldn't help but think about the conversation he'd had with Chinjao moments earlier. The old man's words echoed in his mind, and a cold fury began to burn in his chest.
His keen observation skills allowed him to feel three presences locked onto him. His earlier promise to Chinjao must have scared him. He swallowed his anger, as he slipped out of the palace and walked towards the shore. He looked back at the palace, sitting on top of a mountain, looking down at the island like a tyrant ruler, and he swore he would return.
As he vanished into the island within the bead, he was greeted by the warm smiles and hugs of Sophie, his mother, sister, and Sophie's mother. His mother, Liana, was a beautiful woman in her early forties, with dark hair that cascaded down her back and a curvy figure that belied her age. Sophie's mother, Isabella, was equally striking, with bright blue eyes and long, flowing blonde hair that framed her delicate features. Despite the hardships they had faced, both women had aged gracefully, looking more like they were in their thirties.
His sister, Luna, was a vibrant, seventeen-year-old girl with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Her short, curly brown hair framed her heart-shaped face, and her lively, expressive eyes seemed to dance with joy every time she looked at her brother.
As Jack entered the safe haven he had created within the bead, the four of them gathered around him, their faces filled with relief and gratitude.
"Jack!" Luna exclaimed, throwing her arms around her brother's neck. "Why does it take you so long to visit us when you can enter the island anytime you want? I missed you!"
Jack hugged his sister tightly, feeling the weight of the world lift off his shoulders as he embraced his family. "I've missed you too, Luna ," he murmured, his voice even.
Liana approached her son, tears brimming in her eyes. "I'm so proud of you, Jack," she said, her voice cracking with emotion. "You've become such a strong, brave man. "
Isabella stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Jack's arm. "Thank you, Jack," she said softly, her eyes filled with gratitude. "You've brought my daughter back to me. I don't know how I can ever repay you."
Jack shook his head, his eyes were burning with anger still. "You don't need to repay me, Isabella," he said, his voice deep. "We're family, and family takes care of each other."
For a while, they stood there in the warm embrace of their loved ones, allowing themselves to forget the darkness and pain that had brought them to this point. They laughed and cried, sharing stories of their time apart and vowing to never let anything come between them again.
"Jack," Liana said at one point, her eyes shining with pride.
Jack looked down at his plate, his heart swelling with pride and gratitude. "Yes, Mom?"
"I just want you to know how proud we all are of you," she continued. "You've faced so many challenges, and you've never given up. I can't even begin to imagine what you've been through, but I want you to know that we'll always be here for you, no matter what."
Jack felt his eyes turn from deep raging sea to calm, serene blue "Thank you, Mom," he whispered, his voice thick with calm.
Liana looked into Jack's eyes with a warm smile. "You've been the man of the house for a long time now." She reminisced about how his father had died when he was five, leaving him to take care of his newborn sister, Luna . Similarly, Sophie's father had perished when slave traders attacked their home, leaving their families to lean on each other for support.
Jack nodded solemnly, acknowledging the responsibility that had been thrust upon him at such a young age. "I've always tried to do my best to protect and provide for all of you," he said, his voice steady and strong.
Liana reached out and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "And you've done an incredible job, Jack. We're all so grateful for everything you've done for us."
As they continued their conversation, a small figure burst into the room. A five-year-old girl with black hair as dark as her father's and deep, angry forest-green eyes came running towards Jack, her arms outstretched. "Daddy!" she squealed, her face lighting up with joy.
Following the little girl was a beautiful 24-year-old woman with golden hair and light green eyes. Her face was the picture of elegance, and her smile was warm and genuine as she approached Jack.
Jack's eyes softened as he scooped up the little girl into his arms, spinning her around as she giggled with delight. "There's my little princess, Aria," he said, his voice filled with love and affection. He then turned his gaze to the woman and smiled at her. "Amelia."
Amelia reached Jack and wrapped her arms around him, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek. "I'm so glad you're back, Jack. We've all missed you terribly."
Jack's heart swelled with love for his daughter, and he hugged Aria tightly. "I've missed all of you too," he said, his voice softening.
As they all sat down to enjoy a meal together, the conversation flowed easily, and laughter filled the room. Jack listened intently as each of his family members shared their stories and experiences while he had been away.
At one point during the meal, Aria looked up at Jack with her big green eyes and asked, "Daddy, can you tell us about your adventures?"
Jack hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with the memories of the battles and hardships he had faced. But then he looked into Aria's eager eyes and decided to share some of the tamer parts of his journey with his family.
He told them about the beautiful islands he had visited, the strange creatures he had encountered, and the fascinating people he had met along the way. As he spoke, he could see the awe and wonder in their eyes, and it filled him with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
At one point, Amelia looked at Jack with concern in her eyes. "You've been through so much, Jack," she said softly. "How do you manage to stay so strong?"
Jack looked at his daughter, his eyes filled with love and affection. "It's because of my little princess," he said softly, leaning down to plant a gentle kiss on Aria's forehead. She giggled in delight, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
The others in the room watched Jack with a mixture of love and awe, as he was not one to openly display emotions. He was known for his calm demeanor and stoic expressions, but his eyes would often reveal his true feelings. Jack's eyes would transform from a calm, serene blue to a stormy, deep blue when he was angry or passionate. People were drawn to his strength and resilience, rather than his flowery words.
Jack was rarely emotional, only allowing himself to be vulnerable with his daughter. With her, he could be gentle, doting, and openly loving, which was a stark contrast to his usual persona. His flirty nature would only surface when he was chasing after women, but even then, it was a far cry from the tender emotions he reserved for his family.
After catching up with his family and enjoying some much-needed downtime, Jack knew it was time to set out once more. As they gathered to see him off, Aria's eyes widened with excitement.
"Daddy, can I come with you this time?" she asked, her forest-green eyes pleading. "I'm bored and I want to spend time with you."
Jack looked down at his daughter, his usually calm eyes softening. "All right, princess. You can come with me this time. But you have to promise to be careful and listen to me, okay?"
Aria nodded vigorously, her excitement bubbling over. "I promise, Daddy! I'll be the best hunter princess ever!"
Amelia looked at Jack with a mixture of concern and pride. "I want to come too, Jack. I know it's not easy out there, but I want to be with you and our daughter."
Jack hesitated for a moment before nodding his agreement. "Okay, Amelia. But just this once, and only because I know how much Aria wants this. We need to be cautious and stay close together."
With their plans settled, Jack exited the bead's pocket space, emerging on the beach of Kano Country. He scanned the area, ensuring that no one was spying on him before summoning the Bead Rider.
As the sleek boat materialized, Jack helped Aria and Amelia onto the vessel, making sure they were secure. Once they were settled, he channeled energy from his body into the bead, powering the boat and sending it speeding across the water.
Aria squealed with delight as the wind whipped through her hair, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she sat on her father's lap. Amelia clung to Jack's arm, her light green eyes filled with love and admiration.
"Daddy, this is amazing!" Aria exclaimed as they raced across the open water. "I've never gone this fast before!"
Jack grinned, his calm blue eyes reflecting the joy of the moment. "I'm glad you're enjoying it, princess. There's nothing quite like the feeling of the open sea."
As they continued their journey, Jack kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, steering the Bead Rider with expert precision. Amelia marveled at his skill, her heart swelling with pride as she watched her husband navigate the treacherous waters.
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