Stupefied, Judy took several involuntary steps back, tripped over her grandfather, and fell with a yelp.
Both of them had the same thought. He shouldn’t be alive… Is he a ghost?
Zoey, Cora, and the rest took in their terrified faces with surprise. While Levi’s appearance shocked the Lopez and the Black families, their reaction paled in comparison to the Langstons. Hence, they were baffled to see those two beside themselves with terror.
“Don’t just stand there,” Cora urged the rest. “Help them!”
A few members of the family went to help Thierry and Judy up.
“Thierry, what’s wrong?” she asked, looking nonplussed.
“I didn’t expect to see him here,” Thierry breathed. Though he had come to his senses by now and realized that Levi was, in fact, alive, he was still overwhelmed.
“Yeah… Neither did I. It’s frightening to see someone who wasn’t supposed to be here appear suddenly…” Judy said with a hand clutching her chest.
The rest cast dubious glances at them, secretly wondering if they were hiding something.
“Frightening, huh?” Levi drawled, smirking. “Were you hoping that I’d die for real?”
“N-No. We wouldn’t dare,” Thierry stammered, unthinking. The moment those words left his mouth, however, he realized he spoke too hastily.
Everyone from the Lopez and Black families looked at him strangely. The way he spoke to Levi just now was deferential as if the latter was his master.
Clearing his throat, Thierry tried to make up an excuse. “I mean, I just don’t want Evie to lose her father and Zoey to lose her husband.”
“That’s right,” Judy quickly followed up. “A child needs a father.”
The rest nodded in comprehension, seemingly to have bought the excuse.
“We’re happy to see you alive,” Thierry said to Levi sincerely “If anything, we’re happy for Evie and Zoey.”
It was true. Levi being alive worked to their favor on all accounts. Hence, Thierry was indeed glad to have him alive.
As the initial shock passed, Judy felt a sudden urge to cry, but she suppressed the tears.
Levi nodded to the two of them and turned to smile at his wife and daughter. He patted Forlevia’s head gently. “I said I’d return for you and Evie in three months. I’m a man of my words. Zoey, it’s time for us to go home.”
“Not so fast!” Shaun piped up loudly when he saw Levi leading Zoey and Forlevia away. “Levi Garrison, are you forgetting something?”
Logan and a few others caught on immediately. “That’s right!” He supplemented. “Did you forget about the condition you need to fulfill before you can leave with your family?”
“Oh?” Levi arched a brow.
Surprise flickered in both Thierry and Judy’s eyes at the sudden intervention, but they had soon connected the dots and realized what the others were talking about.
Unlike Shaun and Logan, they had neither the courage nor the motivation to demand that of Levi. After all, the entire Great Family of Westford had accepted him as their de facto master. It would be utterly pointless to bring up that particular provision again.
Oblivious to the thoughts that were racing across Thierry’s mind, the others remained persistent.
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten that there’s a precondition for you to reunite with your wife and daughter,” Jennie huffed. “You need to become the God of War or achieve a higher status before we deem you to be good enough for them!”
All eyes were on Levi as Cora stepped forth and asked in a steely voice, “Did you meet that requirement, Levi Garrison?”
