Relaxing by the River Bank

Along the banks of the Hudson River, the water sparkled, and white swans glided gracefully across the surface.

In a quiet spot by the riverside, a young man and woman sat at a small wrought-iron table.

The girl, about seventeen, had a delicate, mixed-heritage beauty, with soft, fair skin and clear features. She wore a simple jacket and long dress, looking far more reserved than the trendier women passing by.

The man, too, was striking. If not for the beautiful girl beside him, other women might have already approached him. Yet, his relaxed posture made it seem as if he wasn't too concerned about much.

"So, that's why you dropped out of school?"

Evan sipped his juice and occasionally tossed breadcrumbs into the river, attracting curious swans to peck near the shore.

"Hey, don't look at me like I'm some sort of delinquent." Skye typed away on her laptop. "I've learned all I needed from school, and I'm tired of wasting time there."

"I know you're a genius." Passing her the juice, Evan asked, "So, what's next on your agenda?"

Skye took the half-finished juice, twirling the straw before taking a sip. "Hmm… hang out at the club for a few days, and then look for something more… extraordinary. Or maybe..."

She trailed off, her bright brown eyes glancing at Evan. "Or I could be someone's little lover?"

It was barely a question.

Evan slid an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "You know me too well."

"Gwen and Jessica, right?" Skye asked, pressing a few last keys before a loading bar appeared on her laptop. She leaned against him, her soft body fitting perfectly into his arms. "Maybe I was born to be a troublemaker."

"That's not who you are."

Evan gently brushed a hand across her cheek, enjoying the smoothness, and asked, "Is there something you're not telling me?"

Skye looked up, her expression softened. "Jessica was right… you're always considerate at just the right time."

Actually, Evan had just received a system task, though he kept that to himself.

He found it odd—Skye still seemed like an ordinary person. Was this mission about hacking skills? If so, that would at least come in handy.

When he'd first met Skye, he'd been partly motivated by system rewards. But now, his thought was different—this girl is worth keeping around.

"I learned something from my mom recently," Skye began, telling Evan about her recent experiences. "She's still hiding a lot, but I've got this weird feeling that there's something unique about me."

She paused, then added, "So, I got tested at a special clinic, and…"

Evan's mind went straight to the possibility of hidden superpowers. But her news wasn't what he expected.

Skye's eyes misted over. She wrapped her arms around his neck and said softly, "Evan, it looks like… I can't have children. You won't… resent me for it, will you?"

Ah.

It wasn't what he'd anticipated. Unable to have children?

Was it because Skye was part Inhuman? Sort of like how a mule can't reproduce… He realized that comparison was a bit harsh.

Clearly, she saw herself as a girl with a genetic flaw. This was his moment to reassure her.

"Of course not."

Evan gave her a supportive smile. "If you're not busy, how about becoming my assistant? You know…"

Skye's cheeks flushed, and she teased, "Oh, so you're into that kind of thing, huh?"

Having an assistant wasn't the real point—it was more about having this beautiful 'assistant' around for, well, other things.

And as for Banner, he'd disappeared a while back, probably off dealing with his own problems.

"Although… I'd love to say yes, Evan," Skye whispered, moving closer until their faces were just inches apart.

Then she smiled slyly. "But your sister got to me first."

What?

Evan thought back. Lately, Jessica and Skye had been spending a lot of time together…

Could my own sister have stolen her from me? The thought sent a shiver through him. "Skye… you and Jessica…"

"Psst." Skye laughed triumphantly. "What are you thinking? She just wants me to be her assistant at the club. A paying job!"

"Oh, that makes sense. For a moment, I thought…" Evan sighed in relief. Being 'cheated on' by his sister was a little too wild, even for him.

Now it all made sense. Jessica had been pestering him for money recently, and she'd gone through quite a few pairs of stockings for some reason.

...

If you find any mistakes in the chapter. Please point it out in the comment section and I will try to correct them as soon as possible.