Lennon walked away without looking back, disappearing into the night. Maisie sat in her car, looking at the residential area in the deep night, and tears slowly welled up in her eyes.
Her father had once bought a house in Serenity Gardens. Whenever he fought with her mother, he would come and stay here alone.
Once, she had a fever and her mother didnโt care for her, so her father brought her here. In the house with simple decorations, there were photos of an unfamiliar woman on the walls.
She was just a kid back then, and thought the woman was a movie star. It wasnโt until much later that she realized the woman was Catherine, the only one that her dad truly cared about.
After her father โdied,โ her mother never discovered this place when settling the estate, so Maisie kept it a secret all these years.
She never expected to come back here after so many years. โDad, donโt you want to come back to see this place? Todayโs the wedding day of your son, the son of yours and Catherine,โ Maisie thought.
The moonlight was clear, and the night breeze was soft. Lennon paused at the entrance, his eyes fixed on Maisieโs car. He didnโt move until Maisie finally drove away.
โMr. Zuckerberg, Iโm back,โ Lennon called out as he pushed open the door.
The light came on, and Porter, dressed in a brown monkโs robe, had clearly been waiting there for quite a while.
If one had to compare him with the cloned Porter who appeared at the wedding today, he was aged, desireless, and with a face gradually taking on a monkโlike aura.
โMr. Zuckerberg, Iโve delivered the medicine. Theyโre all fine,โ Lennon said with a grin, setting the takeout barbecue on the table. โMr. Zuckerberg, try these; Maisie bought them.โ There were meat and veggies.
Porter had become a monk mainly to find peace of mind. It had nothing to do with dietary reasons; he never turned vegetarian.
He took his time enjoying the skewers his daughter had bought; his heart filled with mixed emotions.
โMaisie has grown up to be so mature and sensible. She never blindly takes Joannaโs side and is always there to support Daniel and Amelia whenever they need help. Sheโs always been a good kid with a strong sense of right and wrong,โ he thought.
Therefore, even though sheโs Joannaโs daughter, he cherished her just as much.
Now, two of his kids had already started their own families, and Maisie was the only one still single. If he could, he wished to see Maisie start a family too.
โMr. Zuckerberg, does it still taste like what you remember?โ Lennon asked, thoughtfully making Porter some coffee.
Porter said nodding, โYeah, itโs still that same old taste.โ
โMr. Zuckerberg, you obviously care about them, so why donโt you show up?โ Lennon frowned and asked, puzzled. โTodayโs wedding wouldโve been the perfect time!โ
โI just wanted to have a look; no need to disturb their lives,โ Porter said.
Lennon sighed and said, โMr. Zuckerberg, I saw the clone today. He looks exactly like you!โ
โHeโs a clone; of course, he looks the same,โ Porter said.
โBut I heard clones would have flaws. God knows how long he can actually stay by Joannaโs side,โ Lennon said.
โThatโs their business. It has nothing to do with me,โ Porter said coolly, and continued eating supper slowly.
As far as Joanna was concerned, all Porter felt was pure hatred. She had schemed to tear his family apart, forcing Catherine into a life of misery and ultimately to her death.
For the sake of his children, Porter held back from seeking revenge. However, forgiveness was out of the question.
โMr. Zuckerberg, how long are we going to stay in Lunova?โ Lennon asked.
Porter thought for a long time before answering, โLetโs see how things go.โ
Lennon couldnโt help but smirk deep down, โMr. Zuckerberg clearly wants to leave the monastery, but heโs still putting up a front.โ
The following day, Tuff and Landon brought Joanna and cloned Porter to Project Azureveil. Cloned Porter instantly became the center of attention.
He wasnโt used to occasions like this and grasped Joannaโs hand. โDonโt be afraid. Itโs just a routine checkโup, and Iโm getting checked too,โ Joanna said, smiling reassuringly.
โWhy must it be here?โ cloned Porter asked, glancing around cautiously. This place was very highโtech, reminding him of where he used to live. This was not an ordinary hospital.
โBecause I want to have a baby with you,โ Joanna said.
Cloned Porterโs eyes widened with surprise and joy. โReally?โ he asked.
โYeah. Therefore, we need to do a checkโup first. This place has way better medical tech than a normal hospital,โ Joanna explained.
โWhereโs this place?โ the cloned Porter asked.
โThis is an old friendโs place. He owes me a favor, so heโs letting us get checked out here,โ Joanna replied.
Joanna spoke calmly, but her gaze occasionally flicked toward Tuff and Landon.
In her mind, Joanna was crystal clear, โWeโre here for a checkโup; no one is allowed to say a word about him being a clone, and no one lays a finger on him.โ
โJoanna, the checkup will begin in just a moment,โ Tuff said with a fawning smile.
Joanna was satisfied and said, โAlright.โ
Throughout the entire checkโup, Tuff personally accompanied cloned Porter, acting as a medical aide.
He was mainly concerned that the staff might violate the agreement and do something they shouldnโt do to cloned Porter.
Landon was negotiating with Larry. โIf you want to know how good cloning technology is, a medical exam is sufficient. He canโt do anything beyond that. I promised Joanna I wouldnโt hurt them, Dr. Mitchell,โ Landon said firmly.
โLandon, Iโฆโ Larry hesitated, his excitement barely contained.
โThis cloned Porter isnโt flawless. If I could get my clone to be like this, my wife would never know the difference,โ Larry thought to himself.
โWeโre tracking down Jonny. Regardless of whether heโs dead or alive, weโll bring him to Project Azureveil and let you handle him however you deem fit,โ Landon said, his face stern, an unspoken authority in his voice.
Larry was intimidated by his words. โIโm old now, not as sharp as before, while Landon is in his prime. If I keep putting my own interests as priority, what would happen?โ Larry wondered, feeling uneasy.
He couldnโt bring himself to imagine the consequences. For the first time, it hit him that he might end up under Landonโs thumb.
โWhereโs Monroey? I want to see him,โ Landon asked.
โIโll bring you,โ Larry replied and led Landon to another room to see Monroe.
Monroe was meditating, chill as ever. โHe probably thinks Jonny will pull off,โ Landon thought.
โRidiculous,โ Landon scoffed deep down and suddenly whipped out his gun and fired. โBang!โ The bullet struck Monroe square in his glabella. He didnโt even get a chance to react before he died.
Larry was shocked. โLandon, what are you doing?โ he exclaimed.
โHeโs a menace,โ Landon said sternly, holstering his gun. โDr. Mitchell, heโll never give you the tech you want. Keeping him around means constantly being threatened by him. Itโs better to kill him now.โ
โBut, butโฆโ Larry stammered, at a loss for words.
โWith cloned Porter, Jonny, and the science talents Monroe trained, thatโs more than enough,โ Landon cut off Larryโs hesitation.
Landon realized something through Joanna. โWhen love gets stubborn, no one can stop them,โ he thought.
โWhat if one day Larry gets that way, too, and does something that puts the Flying Tiger Sect at risk? Itโs best to kill Monroe now,โ Landon thought.
Larryโs energy seemed to drain away, and he looked utterly defeated. โLandonโs all grown up now, and he doesnโt listen to me anymore.โ
โDamn, I really messed up. I shouldnโt have let Landon get close to Monroe,โ Larry thought to himself.
โDr. Mitchell, Iโm not going to talk about quitting anymore. Whatever you want to do, Iโm all inโIโll fully support you,โ Landon said firmly.
โSupport? My ass! Youโve just killed the core man!โ Larry thought furiously.
โDr. Mitchell, youโre still capable. With cloned Porter with us, Iโm sure weโll finally crack this technology,โ Landon said.
Larry was shocked and said, โYouโre not quitting?โ
โYeah. Iโm now fascinated by the cloning world. Iโll be sticking around,โ Landon replied with a grin.
Landonโs undeniable aura of authority made Larry even more frustrated. He ignored Landon and refused to say another word.
For the following several hours while they were waiting for the checkโup, they didnโt speak a single word to each other.
Joanna looked at the two and immediately guessed the outcome. Delighted, she cast Landon an approving glance. โThis young man has drive and is greatly promising,โ she thought to herself.