Back at the house, Adeline had already prepared an impressive dinner.
Technically it was still a little early for a full meal, but in America schedules were flexible and casual. Eating earlier or later rarely mattered, especially in a relaxed household like theirs. The table was already filled with food, and the delicious smell drifting through the kitchen made it obvious she had spent quite a bit of effort preparing everything.
During the drive home, Ethan and Lorna had gradually become more familiar with each other.
Taking advantage of the relaxed conversation, Ethan asked a few casual questions about her family. Lorna answered surprisingly directly, speaking with little hesitation as she explained her background.
Through the conversation, Ethan confirmed what he had already suspected.
She really was Magneto's daughter.
However, her situation was more complicated than it appeared. Lorna didn't seem to have any meaningful connection with her father. She had been placed with foster families since childhood and had grown up without experiencing any real parental affection.
For most of her life she had lived in New Jersey with her adoptive parents. After finishing middle school, she moved to New York for high school. Because of her exceptional intelligence she had skipped three grades, and now at only sixteen years old she had essentially completed her final year.
Their lives had followed strangely similar paths.
Because of that shared experience, the conversation between them flowed easily. By the time they arrived home, the two had already dropped formalities and begun calling each other by shorter names. Ethan called her Lorna, while she casually shortened his name to Li.
Adeline was delighted to see how quickly they got along.
She watched them with visible happiness as they sat down for dinner. The table was covered with a mix of dishes, many of them traditional Chinese recipes alongside Western staples like steak and roasted vegetables. The fusion of flavors made the entire meal incredibly appetizing.
Throughout dinner, the three of them talked about many different topics, though the focus naturally shifted toward Ethan.
Lorna's curiosity about him was obvious.
She asked countless questions about his companies, his work, and the businesses he had built. Her interest didn't feel manipulative or calculated. Instead, it carried the bright enthusiasm of a teenager imagining her own future.
Still, Ethan noticed something subtle beneath her smiles.
Occasionally, hidden behind her cheerful expression, there was a faint trace of unease and worry.
Of course, Ethan understood exactly why.
He simply chose not to point it out.
After finishing dinner, Ethan and Lorna helped Adeline clean the kitchen and clear the table. Once everything was tidy, the two of them decided to step outside for a walk.
Adeline happily agreed to the idea but chose not to accompany them. Instead she remained at home, clearly pleased that the two young people were getting along so well.
The neighborhood around the villa was quiet and peaceful.
Streetlights illuminated the sidewalks while the cool evening air drifted gently through the trees. Ethan and Lorna walked slowly through the residential streets, passing neat houses and trimmed lawns.
For Ethan, moments like this were rare.
His life was usually filled with complicated plans, dangerous enemies, and enormous responsibilities. Simply walking through a quiet neighborhood with no pressure felt strangely refreshing.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
Then Lorna suddenly broke the silence.
"Did you know," she said thoughtfully, "that statistically speaking, one out of every thousand people in the world will eventually become a mutant? And that ratio is only going to keep increasing."
Ethan raised an eyebrow and glanced at her.
"Why bring that up all of a sudden?"
Lorna shook her head slightly before continuing.
"Mutants should represent hope for the world. We're supposed to be the next stage of human evolution, a natural step forward for humanity."
Her voice grew quieter as she spoke.
"But instead of that, things turned into what we see today. Humans and mutants treat each other like separate races, always suspicious, always hostile."
Ethan turned his head and looked at her carefully.
The girl beside him seemed unexpectedly mature for someone her age.
"You're not wrong," he admitted. "But conflicts between groups rarely change because of individuals. People like us are usually too small to influence something that big."
His words sounded modest.
In truth, given Ethan's current power and influence, he absolutely could change that situation if he chose to. It wouldn't be easy, but it certainly wasn't impossible.
Lorna shook her head firmly.
"No. Individuals can change a lot more than people think."
Then she stopped walking and turned to face him.
Her expression became serious as she spoke again.
"Do you know any mutants?"
Ethan blinked slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… do you have mutants around you?" Lorna clarified.
Ethan studied her expression carefully for a moment.
Then he nodded slightly.
"Yes," he said calmly. "There are mutants around me."
His answer clearly surprised her.
But after hearing it, Lorna suddenly smiled.
"That makes things easier," she said. "Then I'll tell you a secret."
"What secret?" Ethan asked, though he already had a strong guess.
Lorna looked directly into his eyes.
"I'm a mutant."
Ethan frowned slightly.
"That sounds like a pretty serious secret," he said slowly. "We've only known each other for a day. Why tell me something that important?"
Lorna hesitated briefly before answering.
"My intuition tells me you're someone who can help me."
Ethan was momentarily speechless.
In his mind he almost laughed helplessly.
Kid, have you watched too many movies? he thought silently. I'm the one who kidnapped your father.
Seeing his silence, Lorna suddenly stepped closer.
She moved so near that their bodies were almost touching. Ethan could even feel her breathing as she leaned forward.
Without breaking eye contact, she spoke slowly.
"You're a mutant too, aren't you?"
Ethan's frown gradually relaxed.
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
"And why are you so sure about that?" he asked.
"Because…" Lorna paused slightly. "Victor told me."
"What?"
For a moment Ethan didn't react.
Then he suddenly let out a quiet laugh.
His expression returned to calm as he looked directly into her eyes. Deep within her gaze he could clearly see a hint of fear and nervous tension.
"So that's how it is," Ethan said softly. "You already know, don't you?"
"Yes," Lorna replied.
Her voice remained steady despite the tension between them.
"I know you captured my father. Victor told me everything. He warned me to be careful around you."
She exhaled slowly before continuing.
"But I never expected Adeline to be your adoptive mother. Sometimes the world really is smaller than we think."
Lorna held his gaze without backing away.
"Now I'm standing right here in front of you," she said calmly. "So what are you planning to do with me?"
The atmosphere between them froze instantly.
For a brief moment neither of them moved.
Ethan stared at her with slight surprise.
Then, unexpectedly, he laughed.
Reaching out suddenly, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her directly into his arms.
"You really caught my attention," he said softly.
His voice carried a playful but dangerous tone.
"Looks like you walked right into my hands yourself, girl."
.....
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