Marvel's Princess - Chapter 74
The future needed consideration, but the current situation couldn’t be ignored.
Charlie’s house was too small. Living with his daughter was already inconvenient. It could work temporarily, especially since Bella would soon leave Forks for college. However, adding Samantha and her daughter would make the house unbearably crowded. If Bella came back for a visit, it would be even more chaotic.
Living in a small house with three women? Charlie thought he might be better off staying in the yard!
He was seriously considering leaving Forks for a big city. Proposing, getting married, and then buying a big house to start a new life were all things a traditional-minded Charlie had to consider.
The housing issue was easy to solve. Despite high property prices, Charlie could afford it after saving for seventeen years. He would buy a house when needed, regardless of the market. The main concern was future household income.
Bella pulled him aside, speaking softly, “Is it about work?”
Charlie had gained a lot of respect for his daughter. Even someone like Nick Fury, who observed Bella objectively, concluded that her contributions during the spider incident far surpassed Natasha’s. Her own father, Charlie, was even more impressed.
He saw Bella as intelligent and decisive, not just the somewhat absent-minded girl she appeared to be. When it came to important matters, she was reliable. He didn’t believe his ex-wife’s claims that Bella was often bullied at school.
If someone like Bella was bullied, then ordinary students wouldn’t stand a chance!
Charlie no longer treated her as a child and discussed future plans with her seriously. Both he and Samantha needed job adjustments, as Samantha didn’t plan to become a housewife. Based on his previous failed marriage, Charlie believed that having a common work environment but not being too close would be best for a couple.
Bella raised an eyebrow. “To maintain a high income, you want to work together but not too close. Do you have any other requirements?”
Charlie knew his demands were high and awkwardly smiled. “It’s just a suggestion. That would be the ideal scenario.”
“Let me think about it.”
Finding jobs was also a tough issue for Bella. Her network was mainly built from the 180 flight incident, with three influential people: Professor John Grey, Chris Redfield, and Victoria Hand.
After considering her options, she decided to call Victoria Hand.
“Hey, Hand,” Bella said, trying to sound casual. After some small talk, she brought up her dad and potential stepmom’s job situation.
Victoria Hand paused thoughtfully. A meticulous and self-serving person, Hand only helped those useful to her. Previously helping Bella get into Stanford was considered a favor repaid. Helping again meant Bella would owe her something in the future.
She weighed her options. Charlie and Samantha were experienced police officers, albeit with limited influence. Their network was primarily at the grassroots level, and not easily leveraged.
“This is a minor issue. Police forces everywhere need experienced officers like your parents. How about Los Angeles? I have some connections with a commissioner on the LAPD board. If your parents are interested, I can arrange something.”
Hand’s proposal was clear: finding jobs wasn’t hard, but their specific requirements needed her connections. Bella thanked her sweetly and ended the call, understanding the nature of these exchanges.
She shared the good news with Charlie and Samantha.
“I asked a friend for help. Would you like to move to Los Angeles and continue as police officers? Starting as detectives based on your current ranks.”
“Los Angeles?” They were both surprised. Securing such a specific opportunity so quickly implied high-level connections.
Samantha gave Charlie a look that seemed to ask, “What exactly does your daughter do?”
Charlie shrugged back, indicating he had no idea but wasn’t willing to probe.
Though moving to Los Angeles wouldn’t be as comfortable as living in their small town, solving their biggest problem—their jobs—made them very happy.
Modern weapons eradicated the spiders in Prosperity Town, leaving the town in ruins. Samantha and Natasha returned to what was left of their home, gathering some belongings. Natasha even dug out a battered teddy bear from the rubble.
Bella, usually quick to tease, respectfully kept silent, standing nearby in quiet solidarity.
“You didn’t tell them the truth, did you?” Natasha referred to the conspiracy they suspected.
The official explanation was that abandoned chemicals caused the spider mutations, sticking to Samantha’s initial report. There was no mention of any masterminds.
Bella whispered, “Let’s not tell them. Sometimes, knowing too much isn’t good. By the way, what have you been up to? You’ve been so secretive.”
Natasha hugged her teddy bear, saying nothing. Bella observed her for a moment but didn’t push. Everyone has their secrets.
The townspeople salvaged what they could from the ruins, thanking Samantha and Charlie for saving their lives. They felt lucky compared to others—about seven hundred people were saved after the military reclaimed the town. Still, they were in critical condition, many with severe brain and lung damage. Even with modern medicine, their future was uncertain.
The survivors exchanged contact information before scattering across the country, some to relatives, others to new places to start over.
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