She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 350: A Glimpse of Normalcy

"Where are the others?" Alex asked, rushing his words slightly. "I was sure Danny would still be fixed to that chair. And what about Mike and Sarah?"

Linda produced a soft, knowing hum, choosing not to press the topic of Victoria just yet... though Alex sensed she was already storing that information away for a later time.

"They headed out about twenty minutes ago," Linda explained, gently stroking Nina’s hair. "Mike and Danny went to grab some actual food, and Sarah tagged along to get some movement in. They have been stuck in this room all day. They should be back shortly."

"That is good. They definitely needed a breather," Alex replied, already starting to push himself up from his seat.

"Actually... I think I will head downstairs to track them down. I could use a coffee and a bit of a stroll, anyway."

It was a transparent maneuver—a hurried retreat intended to evade the looming interrogation regarding Victoria Blackwood... and he was fully aware of it.

David and Linda exchanged a glance, a slight, knowing smile appearing at the edges of their lips. They had been the ones to raise him; they recognized a "Hale Escape" the moment they saw one.

***

Alex stepped out into the hospital hallway, the heavy door clicking shut behind him with a dull thud. As soon as solitude engulfed him, he released a long, shaky breath that he hadn't realized he was holding.

His getaway had been successful, but only because David and Linda had been gracious enough to let him go.

"You are quite incompetent at lying when it concerns them, Alex," Lilith’s voice teased, layered with amusement. "You can confront a High Elder of a Sacred House without even blinking, but a mother’s knowing hum reduces you to a stuttering schoolboy."

"Be quiet, Lilith," Alex thought, a small, private smile tugging at his lips. "It did the trick, and I am still their son. I will gladly trade my pride for that outcome any day."

What he hadn't anticipated was the chime that had echoed in his mind as soon as he entered that room earlier. Amidst his nervous tension, he had sidelined the notification, but now, in the quiet corridor, the golden interface shimmered into his vision.

[NEW SUBORDINATES DETECTED]

[David Morrison: 94% Loyalty]

[Linda Morrison: 98% Loyalty]

[Nina Morrison: 95% Loyalty]

Alex froze in his tracks, staring at the translucent text in total disbelief. "Hold on... what is this? Lilith, they are family. They are not subordinates. Get rid of this label."

"The System is impartial, Alex," Lilith countered, her voice smooth and entirely indifferent. "Anyone who harbors deep-rooted affection and unwavering loyalty toward the Host... provided they do not fall into the Harem or Romantic Interest categories... is sorted under the Subordinate Branch for the sake of resource management. The System is indifferent to your labels; it prioritizes the bond."

Alex remained speechless at the sheer, unyielding rigidity of the System’s logic, yet he could not ignore the practical advantages. If they were categorized as subordinates, he could funnel resources into them and, more pivotally, reap the discounts.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, and his brows knit together as he crunched the numbers.

"Hey," Alex’s mental voice took on a sharper edge. "If the System acknowledged them the moment I walked in, why didn't I receive the discount? I saw the price was 2,000 CP. If the 75% subordinate discount was active, I should have only paid 500! Why did you deduct the full amount?"

He expected an apology for a technical glitch or a system error. Instead, he heard what sounded suspiciously like a digital giggle.

"I only deducted 500 CP, Alex," Lilith replied, sounding far too entertained. "It is not my fault you failed to examine the costs carefully. You were too occupied sweating over your own awkwardness that you swiped through the confirmation without reading a single line."

Alex felt a sudden wave of heat climb up his neck, far more intense than any reaction Linda’s teasing could have provoked. He mentally retrieved his recent transaction logs. There it was, in unmistakable golden text:

[Item: Celestial Dew]

[Price: 2,000 CP]

[Discount Applied: 75% (Subordinate: Nina Morrison)]

[Final Deduction: 500 CP]

"I... I was focused on the situation," Alex mumbled, quickening his pace toward the elevators while desperately attempting to shield his burning face from a passing nurse.

When the elevator doors slid shut, the quiet confinement of the metal box allowed the cold, analytical side of Alex’s brain to seize control.

By tomorrow morning, the Celestial Dew would have completed its primary cycle. Nina would be recovered... finally... but that unveiled a fresh, lethal set of complications he needed to mitigate immediately.

A medical miracle of this stature would never remain contained within hospital walls. Doctors gossip. Nurses leak information. In a reality where Sacred Houses and clandestine organizations keep their ears tuned for any whisper of supernatural recovery, a dying girl suddenly regenerating failed organs served as a massive beacon.

'The rumors,' Alex thought, his eyes narrowing as the floor numbers descended. 'If word of this miracle spreads, the scrutiny will land squarely on Nina and the Morrisons. I cannot allow that.'

He couldn't let the vultures of the hidden world circle his family, digging into their lives to uncover the source of the cure. He needed to plug every potential leak before the first medical report reached the wrong hands.

'I will have to lean on Victoria again,' he concluded. Only the influence of the Blackwood family is potent enough to bury the medical files and force the staff into absolute silence. She can erase the paperwork as if Nina was never even ill.

But even after scrubbing the records, another realization hit him, heavy and cold.

Even if they were discharged, returning to their old home was no longer viable. His adversaries were multiplying and becoming more desperate. The Morrisons were his greatest strength, yet in this world, that made them his greatest liability. They were targets.

Anyone seeking to manipulate Alex would view that small, unguarded house as the perfect leverage to use against him.

'I cannot let them go back there,' Alex determined, his jaw tight. 'It is too dangerous.'

He reflected on the villas he had recently acquired... the high-security estates currently occupied by Viktor and his team.

'Yes. I will relocate them to one of the villas.'

It was the only way to keep them under proper protection. It would come as a shock to them, a massive transition from their simple lives, but he would facilitate it. He would slowly integrate them into the realities of this hidden world, peeling back the curtain one fold at a time. Once they settled, he would do more than just protect them... he would furnish them with the resources to pursue Cultivation, to grow strong, and eventually walk on their own path.

He wasn't merely saving Nina’s life anymore. He was constructing a fortress around his family.

The elevator pinged, the doors retreating to reveal the ground floor. Alex stepped out, his stride deliberate. He needed to locate Danny and the others in the cafeteria, but the blueprint was already set. The Morrisons were leaving their ordinary life behind, whether they realized it yet or not.

The cafeteria was a vast, brightly lit area filled with the scent of bitter coffee and industrial cleaning supplies. He expected to find an atmosphere of weary exhaustion, but as he surveyed the room, his eyes caught a sight that sparked a genuine, surprised grin.

By the window, illuminated by the late afternoon sunlight, Danny and Sarah were leaning closely over a circular table. They weren't bowed by grief; they were huddled together, whispering and laughing about something, the heavy cloud of the past week seemingly dissipated.

Alex didn't speak as he approached, simply placing a hand on Danny’s shoulder.

Danny jumped, nearly upsetting his soda, but as he turned to see Alex, his face blossomed into a wide grin. "Alex! Bro, finally! Where have you been hiding out?"

"Busy with some matters, you know how it goes," Alex said, pulling up an empty chair.

Sarah reached across, her eyes scanning his face with visible concern. "You look like you haven't slept in weeks, Alex. Are you even eating?"

"I am fine, Sarah. Truly," Alex assured her.

He looked around the table, noting one distinct absence. "Wait, where is Mike? I assumed he would be sitting right here with you two."

Danny and Sarah exchanged a look, an identical, mischievous smirk spreading across their faces. Without a word, Danny tipped his thumb toward a table on the far side of the dining area.

Alex followed his gaze and blinked in surprise.

Mike was there, but he was not by himself. He was seated across from a woman in a medical lab coat... a young doctor with her hair secured in an orderly bun.

They were leaning toward one another, engaged in a conversation that looked remarkably like a date. Mike, typically the stoic, immovable mountain of their group, was actually gesturing with animation, wearing a bashful smile that Alex had seldom witnessed.

"Is that...?" Alex began, turning back to his friends.

"Dr. Aris," Sarah whispered, her eyes dancing with amusement. "She has been 'checking in' on us frequently lately. It usually happens whenever Mike is nearby to fetch coffee."

"It is a full-blown romance, man," Danny added, chuckling softly. "We have been sitting here making bets on when he will finally have the guts to ask for her number. He thinks he is being subtle."

Alex observed them for a moment, a rare sense of normalcy washing over him. While he was busy toppling the Vanderbilts and managing Apex-level subordinates, life—genuine, messy, beautiful life—was still unfolding right here.

"He looks happy," Alex noted quietly.

"We all are," Danny replied, his tone becoming sincere as he looked at Alex. "Especially now that you are back with us. But in all seriousness, man... we need to discuss your 'friends.' A certain Victoria Blackwood paid us a visit yesterday, and I think you have some explaining to do."