“Any guesses on what our son is up to?" Lilah asked playfully as she poured Gerard a steaming cup of coffee.

He replied with a resigned chuckle, "By now, he's probably turned the place upside down. He appears sweet and innocent with us, but when he's on his own, he's a total wild child."

Lilah nodded knowingly, savoring her coffee, and mused that her coffee-making skills might be a bit rusty.

But that didn't matter; Gerard would drink it regardless.

"Lilah, I'm kind of worried. Do you think Jerrold could get into trouble?" Xavier asked, entering the yard with a look of concern etched on his face.

Xavier was entrusted with taking Jerrold out for the day, following Lilah's cautious advice: "If you notice anyone suspicious, just go with the flow. There's no need to confront them."

Now, hours had drifted by.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine," Lilah reassured him. She believed trouble was more likely to find others, not Jerrold.

Her team was discreetly keeping an eye on her son; she knew he was safe.

Despite this, Xavier's anxiety lingered. He bit his lip, grabbed a stool, and positioned himself by the front gate, his eyes glued to the road outside.

Suddenly, he sprang to his feet.

“Lilah, they're back!" he shouted, rushing outside.

"Xavier!" Jerrold's excited voice rang out as he spotted Xavier, leaping joyfully from Barth's arms into Xavier's.

Xavier was both thrilled and relieved. He quickly checked Jerrold over to ensure he was okay, and then scooped him up into his arms.

“Where have you been?" he asked quietly, casting a glance at Barth who wore a guilty expression.

Jerrold giggled, leaning in to whisper something in Xavier's ear, causing them both to burst into laughter.

Barth walked past them, approaching Lilah with a hint of hesitation, unsure of how to begin.

“Barth, I'm really relieved you could make it today," Lilah greeted him warmly, motioning for him to take a seat.

"We've got some coffee ready for you. Please, join us."

Barth's face initially stiffened, but then he chuckled, clearly surprised by the warm reception.

"You knew I'd bring Jerrold back?" he asked as he settled into a chair, watching Lilah pour the coffee.

Lilah set the cup in front of him. "Honestly, I wasn't sure. It's been a while, and you seem different," she admitted, pausing for a moment. “I'm sorry for any doubts I had. I'm really glad you brought Jerrold back."

She was genuinely happy.

At least things with Barth hadn't reached a breaking point.