Chino had already noticed earlier that Wanda's powers had awakened, though it seemed even she herself didn't realize it.
But Pietro's reaction was far more intriguing—clearly, he knew.
Chino grabbed Pietro and placed him in front of the dining table.
"Care to explain?" Chino asked. "I mean you no harm—in fact, I might even be good for you both."
Pietro remained silent for a moment, realizing the Demon King had no reason to lie to him. He slowly began to speak.
"When we were little, our family was still whole... until a missile hit our house and exploded. But at that very moment, a red energy emerged from Wanda and shielded us both."
(But in Wanda's memory, the entire house was obliterated, yet the two kids barely had any dust on them. That doesn't really add up.)
"Still, our parents were gone in the blast. Wanda and I hid under the bed. Another missile fell, one that never exploded… We spent two long days just staring at it, expecting it to go off at any moment."
"After that, it was like Wanda forgot all about the red energy. All she remembered was that unexploded missile."
Chino blinked. Missing parents, huh? That felt very familiar.
Pietro was still lost in the past.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom…
"Wanda, come here," Pamela called gently.
Wrapped in a towel, Pamela stood with a soft, motherly smile, waving at the timid girl standing hesitantly nearby.
"M-Miss Pamela, I can wash myself…" Wanda said, head down, fingers nervously fidgeting, not daring to meet her eyes.
"There's sand and dust in your hair. You can't get it all out by yourself. And I remember some insect eggs hatch in the sand—once they reach your scalp…"
Pamela paused, leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid on purpose.
Wanda immediately tensed, a shiver running down her spine. Without another word, she scampered over to Pamela and sat obediently.
The thought of bugs on her head made her scalp itch in panic.
Pamela chuckled softly and shook her head before carefully adjusting the water temperature on the shower head.
As the warm water gently flowed over her hair and Pamela's hands worked like feathers, Wanda gradually began to relax.
"Thank you, Miss Pamela," she whispered with a slight tremble in her voice.
"Don't call me 'Miss.' Call me sister."
Pamela's tone was gentle but firm.
"…Pamela-sister," Wanda murmured after a brief hesitation.
"I'm here," Pamela responded.
Those simple words—"I'm here"—carried a mysterious magic that reached deep into Wanda's heart.
Her eyes instantly turned red, and tears spilled uncontrollably.
The water from the shower mingled with her tears, streaming down her cheeks and dripping onto her knees.
Wanda bit her lip hard, trying to suppress her sobs, but her trembling shoulders gave her away.
Pamela set down the showerhead and asked with concern, "Did it get into your eyes?"
"N-No… Can I hug you, Pamela-sister?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Wanda buried her face into a warm embrace that smelled faintly of flowers.
"Cry it out. You'll feel better afterward."
Pamela gently stroked Wanda's small head, though there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
A touch of soothing scent, a relaxing atmosphere, and a few simple psychological tricks—enough to make Wanda drop her guard.
Chino had told Pamela about Wanda's identity before he left this morning. If there was ever a time to win her loyalty, it was now.
Chino might not care, but Pamela wanted to do her part.
"Mom… Mom…" Wanda sobbed helplessly.
She didn't understand any of this. All she felt was the warmth of a mother figure in Pamela.
She had been with Pietro since childhood, but there were so many worries she had to keep to herself. Pietro was also burdened, so she buried her troubles deep inside. Over time, she had become more and more introverted.
Now, in Pamela's arms, the lock around her heart quietly opened.
Wanda finally let her emotions loose, sobbing as though a dam had burst.
Pamela twitched slightly—maybe she'd overdone it a little. She didn't really want a kid this big crying in her arms like that.
After a while…
"They say women are made of water. Are you made entirely of tears?" came a third voice in the bathroom.
Wanda looked up from Pamela's embrace and found herself staring at a stunningly beautiful woman. She was so dazed she couldn't help but murmur, "So pretty…"
Unlike Pamela's gentle elegance, this woman radiated an almost bewitching charm.
"You sure know how to talk," the woman smirked. "Pamela, your motherly aura is getting stronger by the minute."
"You're teasing me, Venom-sister," Pamela replied, clearly aware that Venom had noticed her little manipulation tricks.
"H-Hello, I'm Wanda…" Wanda said with a shy sniffle.
"I'm Venom. You can call me Venom-sister too."
"Pietro, are you okay?"
Pietro snapped out of his thoughts and saw Wanda, now all cleaned up and smiling—a smile he hadn't seen since their parents were alive.
"Pietro?" Wanda tilted her head.
"Looks like your brother's been charmed, little beauty," Venom teased.
"Venom-sister! Stop, that tickles!"
Wanda giggled as she tried to dodge Venom's fingers brushing her cheek.
Eventually, she dove behind Pamela, clearly trusting her deeply.
Pamela smiled warmly and spread her arms to block Venom's reach.
"All right, Venom-sister. Let them eat first. Their stomachs have been growling for a while."
"They haven't been growling!" Wanda pouted.
"Right, right. They haven't."
Wanda sat down beside Pietro, while Pamela and Venom took seats beside Chino.
Wanda still looked a little scared of Chino.
"Don't be afraid. He doesn't eat people," Pamela said, placing food into Wanda's bowl.
Pietro also picked up his spoon.
Chino watched as Wanda ate with delight, and then commented casually, "Eat more. Meat tastes better when there's a bit more on your bones."
"Mm! Hic~ I-I'm not—hic—I'm not food!"
Wanda turned to Pamela with teary eyes, hiccupping in fear.
"Darling!" Pamela's voice turned sharp as she glared at Chino.
I'm helping you win her trust, and you go and scare her like this?
Chino immediately recognized the danger and dropped the joke, bowing his head in apology.
"I'm sorry."
Then, in a gesture of goodwill, he poured a glass of juice and gently placed it in front of Wanda.
Wanda stared at the glass, blinking in disbelief. Did he… just apologize?
Pietro looked just as shocked.
Quote of the Chapter:
"Sometimes, the warmest home is not a place—but a person who finally says, 'I'm here.'"
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