The revelation that Katherine was a detective left Aiden bewildered. His gaze swept across the parlor as if searching for some anchor to ground himself. It finally landed on Sadra, who seemed nonchalant.

  “Sadra,” Aiden began, his tone tinged with disbelief, “I’m floored to learn that your son’s fiancée is a police officer.” He paused, collecting his thoughts. “I must say, I was skeptical before, but now I’m thoroughly convinced that your family values character over background.”

  Sadra offered a measured nod. “Aiden, I hope this puts you at ease regarding Lara joining our family. You and Louisa raised her well.”

  Aiden inclined his head in return, his apprehension slowly dissipating, a flicker of acceptance creeping in. It looks like the Shahis really walk the talk.

  Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, Sadra dropped another bombshell. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Seven. He’s Katherine’s brother and our family’s benefactor.”

  Aiden blinked, trying to reconcile the information. What!? Katherine and Seven are siblings? Oh! Is that why he’s been sitting there this whole time? Wait, he’s their benefactor? Didn’t he say he was Kasra’s bodyguard? What the heck is going on?

  His mind raced as questions piled up faster than he could process them.

  Aaris and Huma turned their attention to the man seated beside Sana. The strapping, handsome young man stepped forward with an easy grace. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Shahi, I’m Seven.”

  Aaris’s brows knitted together. “Saddy, what do you mean he’s our family’s benefactor?”

  Sadra drew a deep breath, steadying himself for what he was about to share. “Mom, Dad, there’s something I want to tell you.”

  Then, he glanced at his daughter, as if to muster resolve from her presence. “About a month ago, Sana was ambushed.”

  The crowd was stunned into silence.

  “Ambushed?” Huma’s question broke through the hush.

  Sadra swallowed hard. “It was a coordinated attack. She was targeted on her way back from Dulles Airport. Their intent was clear—they wanted technical information on a project she’s working on.”

  Aaris’s expression froze. He felt his head spin and held onto Huma’s arm for support.

  “She wouldn’t be here today,” Sadra continued, “if it weren’t for Seven. She was shot in the shoulder and thigh. He saved her that day.”

  Huma gasped, tears brimming. “You saved my granddaughter?”

  Seven hummed in confirmation.

  But Sadra wasn’t finished. “There’s more… Do you remember the soldier who rescued Sana from human traffickers five years ago?”

  Aaris froze, his breath catching in his throat.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “That soldier…” his voice faltered, realization dawning. “Don’t tell me it was him?”

  Sadra nodded, corroborating his father’s speculation. “Yes, Dad. It was him.”

  Aaris’s shoulders trembled, emotion flooding him. “Young man, you’ve saved my granddaughter not once, but twice. She’s my only granddaughter! How can I ever repay you?”

  Huma’s tears spilled freely, streaking her cheeks. “You’ve given us back our Sana twice… Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  Seven said softly, “I would do it for anyone who needed my help.”

  Aaris’s tone softened, a rare tenderness breaking through his stern demeanor. “If there’s anything you need, just say the word.”

  Sadra exhaled. “There’s something else, Dad.”

  Aaris frowned. “What is it now?”

  Sadra hesitated before speaking. “When Seven brought Sana to Walter Reed for treatment, he broke protocol. And now the military is investigating him. The hearing’s next Wednesday. Kimi is working on his legal defense.”

  Sadra’s words were unsettling. Aaris’s jaw tightened. “You’re telling me that after saving her life, he might be punished?”

  Seven, unruffled, replied, “I knowingly broke the rules. I’ll accept the consequences no matter what they are.”

  Aaris’s voice hardened, anger twisting his features. “You did what any decent human being would have done. If the military can’t see that, then they’re blind!”

  Sadra patted his father gently on the back, trying to calm him. “Dad, we’re doing everything we can to support him.”

  Aaris suddenly thought of something and said, “I may be retired, but I still have contacts in the military. I’ll call them before your hearing.”

  A faint smile tugged at the corners of Seven’s mouth. “Thank you, Mr. Shahi.”

  “What? Don’t call me that,” Aaris huffed. “From now on, you’ll call me ‘Grandpa.’ Understood?”

  Seven inhaled slowly. “Yes, Grandpa.”

  The second Seven addressed Aaris as an elder, Sadra chuckled. “I was about to tell you about Seven and Sana’s relationship, but it seems you’ve already accepted him into the family.”

  Aaris’s forehead furrowed. “What?”

  Sana straightened and looked her grandfather in the eye. “Grandpa, Seven is my boyfriend.”

  “What!?” Aaris thundered, the sheer volume startling everyone. “Sana! You’re still a little girl! How dare you fall in love?”

  Sana bristled, her chin lifting defiantly. “Grandpa, how old was Grandma when you married her? And how old was she when she gave birth to Dad and Uncle Sadri? She was younger than me, wasn’t she?”

  Aaris’s expression darkened, but before he could respond, Huma interjected, her retort sharp yet teasing. “Old man, stop being such a hypocrite. If I were Sana, I would’ve fallen for him, too. He knows how to heal and is a total heartthrob. Get with the times! Don’t be an annoying old goat!”

  Then, she winked playfully at Sana and purred, “Am I right, Princess?”

  Laughter rippled through the room, easing the tension. Even Aaris, reluctant as he may be, couldn’t suppress a smile.

  Before the conversation could continue, a helicopter landed on the lawn, catching Sadra’s attention. “Seven, your family is here.”

  Seven excused himself and stepped outside. Moments later, he returned, pushing a wheelchair with a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to him. Behind them followed two recognizable figures and an elderly lady.

  Aaris stood unblinking, trying to process the scene before him. “Alain Fortier?”

  Alain beamed. “It’s been a long time, Aaris. How’s retirement treating you?”

  Aaris ignored the question, his confused gaze shifting to his son. “Saddy, didn’t you say Katherine and Seven are siblings? What’s going on here?”

  Sadra looked at his father squarely in the eye as he clarified. “Seven was the baby abducted from the Fortiers on the day he was born. He grew up in an orphanage before being adopted by Katherine’s parents.”

  Gasps echoed as the magnitude of the revelation hit home. The story of the Fortiers’ twin tragedies of attempted murder and kidnapping had been household news.

  Aiden was thunderstruck. Seven… the man I thought was just a bodyguard… the man who bested me in a duel and earned my respect… He gawked at Seven, struggling to connect everything he’d just heard. He’s Sana’s lover… the missing scion of the Fortier family.

  Despite sitting on the sofa, a sense of vertigo overtook him as the realization hit home. And to think I believed he was better suited for Lara. What a joke.