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*****
"Two people?"
Raven was momentarily stunned by Mike's words. Had the girl really moved that fast? She had actually brought someone home already?
She looked at Mike, a hint of helplessness in her eyes. "To be honest, I wasn't prepared for this either."
She had expected Gwen to eventually accept someone's confession and start a relationship—the usual slow progression of boyfriends and girlfriends. But this? Bringing him straight to the front door was a bold move.
Mike rubbed his temples, then took a long, steadying stride toward the door.
Raven hurried to keep pace, whispering urgently, "You have to stay calm, Mike."
Mike gave a curt, composed nod. "I am perfectly calm."
If he weren't calm, he would have blasted a hole through the front door with his heat vision the second he saw who was standing outside.
He reached out, his hand gripping the doorknob. He took a deep breath, carefully rearranging his features into what he hoped was a warm, fatherly smile, and pulled the door open.
"Don't you have your own key?" Mike asked Gwen, his voice a mix of exasperation and feigned casualness.
Gwen looked up, her expression a mask of feigned shyness. Standing beside her was a boy with his hair tied back in a neat bun. He was handsome, possessing refined features that carried a trace of delicate beauty. Gwen tightened her grip on the boy's arm, leaning in close.
Ignoring the way Mike's eyelid was twitching violently, Gwen spoke with a deliberate air of importance. "I didn't come back alone this time. I've brought a very important guest, so of course, I had to be formal about it!"
Mike acted as though he was only just noticing the person standing next to his daughter. "Oh...?"
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the "boy" with a critical, judgmental intensity, even as he maintained a polite tone. "And who might this be?"
"Ah, he's my date for the prom," Gwen said, her voice dropping into a bashful lilt. She paused for a heartbeat before adding, in an even softer tone, "And... he's also my boyfriend."
Boyfriend!
The corner of Mike's mouth twitched. When he saw Gwen naturally rest her head on the boy's shoulder, a wave of frigid, oppressive killing intent began to radiate from his body.
Raven, standing right behind him, reached out and gave his arm a sharp tug. Mike managed to suppress his explosive temper, but the icy atmosphere surrounding him only grew heavier.
It was then that Raven really looked at the boy. After a brief start, the corners of her mouth twitched upward in a hidden smile. As a master of disguise herself, she saw through the ruse instantly.
This wasn't a boy; it was a girl.
Feeling the bone-chilling pressure emanating from Mike, Laura felt a cold shiver run down her spine. With her heightened senses, she could feel the sheer, terrifying weight of Mike's power.
She shot Gwen a look of total exasperation, then quickly turned to Mike. "Uncle, it's me. It's Laura."
"Laura?" Mike's brow furrowed.
Why did this boy have a girl's name? A boy named Laura? His opinion of the "boyfriend" plummeted even further.
Seeing that Mike still hadn't put the pieces together, Laura sighed and held out her fist toward him.
Mike's eyebrows shot up. The gall! This kid is actually trying to threaten me?
Snikt!
With the sharp sound of tearing flesh, two gleaming, razor-sharp claws slid out from between Laura's knuckles.
Mike froze. "Laura? It's you!"
Laura nodded, her expression shifting to one of profound innocence as she looked at him. "Uncle Kent, this was all Gwen's idea. I had nothing to do with it."
"Yes, I know," Mike replied, his voice suddenly returning to its usual warmth. He turned his head slowly to look at Gwen.
Gwen instinctively pulled her neck back, offering Mike a desperate, placating smile.
Mike let out a soft huff and gave her a cold, knowing smirk. "You're grounded from your allowance for half a month!"
Gwen's face fell. "Wait! No! I know I messed up!"
"Not a word. Don't argue. Every time you open your mouth to complain, I'll make it a full month," Mike said flatly, effectively silencing her.
"Pfft!" Laura couldn't help but let out a short laugh. "I told you we shouldn't have played this prank."
"You...!" Gwen stared at Laura in utter disbelief. That was definitely not what she had said back at the dessert shop!
"At least Laura is sensible," Mike said with a smile, reaching out to pat Laura's head. "Come on in, both of you."
"Okay!" Laura nodded enthusiastically. "It's been so many years. I've really missed your cooking, Uncle."
"Haha! Just tell me what you want to eat! I'll make whatever you like!" Mike was the picture of a gracious host.
Gwen felt like crying. That was supposed to be her special treatment, and now Laura had stolen it all.
At that moment, Mike turned back, his voice turning cold again. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and close the door."
"Oh!" Gwen chirped obediently. She carefully shut the door and flashed a smile at Mike, only to realize he had already turned his back on her. She let out a long, heavy sigh.
Watching Gwen's dejected state, Raven chuckled and poked her daughter's forehead. "You brought this on yourself."
"But I—"
"It's fine. Once your father's temper cools down in a bit, everything will be back to normal."
"Okay..." Gwen murmured, sticking her tongue out playfully.
During dinner, Mike asked several times to ensure that Laura hadn't come because of some disaster in her world. Once he was certain she wasn't there to ask for emergency reinforcement, he finally relaxed.
After the meal, Laura and Gwen retreated to Gwen's room to talk. Mike spent some time cleaning up a guest room for Laura before heading out with Raven to their bakery.
Speaking of their cake shop... if they actually had to rely on it to make a living, the entire family would have starved to death long ago.
Tonight was the night of the long-awaited Midtown High graduation prom.
One after another, young men and women—dressed in their finest, most colorful attire—arrived at the venue. They carried with them the raw, burning emotions of youth as they walked hand-in-hand with their dates into the school gymnasium, which had been transformed for the occasion.
The place where students usually spent their time sweating and training was now filled with a scent unique to youth: the scent of green grass, anxiety, and the sudden, fluttering beat of a heart.
It was a heady, electric atmosphere.
Peter Parker stood at the edge of the grounds, listening to the muffled music drifting from the hall. He watched the crowds of happy couples passing by, a deep sense of loneliness reflected in his eyes.
In the end, he hadn't found the courage to ask Gwen.
He clenched his fist and shook his hand in a fit of self-annoyance.
"Peter?" a curious voice called out.
Peter's body stiffened. At this moment, the last thing he wanted was to run into someone he knew. And the person calling his name wasn't just an acquaintance; she was a close friend.
Mary Jane.
Peter forced a smile onto his face and turned around. "Mary!"
Mary Jane, dressed in a stunning red gown, looked left and right before lowering her voice. "Why are you here by yourself?"
"I..."
"Don't tell me you didn't get to ask Gwen?"
Hearing that, Peter felt like a balloon that had been pricked by a needle. His shoulders slumped. "I didn't dare..." he admitted weakly.
Mary Jane looked at him with a mixture of pity and exasperation. She sighed softly. "Well, it's understandable that you were intimidated. I mean... it's Gwen. She's a Kent. She's practically the Princess of Planet Kent."
Peter nodded solemnly. Then, he changed the subject. "What about you? I mean, you and Harry?"
Mary Jane gave a brilliant, happy smile. "He's my date for tonight."
Peter looked at her with envy. Sometimes, he truly admired Mary Jane's courage. After all, the social gap between her and Harry Osborn was just as wide.
"Peter, this is your last chance. You have to grab it," Mary Jane encouraged him before turning to head into the hall.
The last chance? Peter hesitated, his heart heavy with doubt. But just then, his eyes caught sight of two figures walking toward the entrance. When he saw Gwen and her "date," he stood there, completely frozen.
(End of Chapter)