Ch.224Side Story 1: Modern Family (1)

# 01_Modern Family_1

December 24, 2015.

Christmas Eve.

If they were in Boston, they’d need to wear thick winter clothes, but Dexter and his companions were dressed in thin short-sleeved t-shirts, shorts, or sundresses.

On the highway near Miami, Dexter, driving a white SUV and wearing an aloha shirt, let out a big yawn. Jesse, sitting in the passenger seat, put a piece of beef jerky in Dexter’s mouth and said:

“We barely escaped Las Vegas where it doesn’t even snow in winter, and now we have to spend Christmas in Miami too? Winter should be cold!”

As Jesse grumbled while blocking the sunlight coming through the window with her hand, Himena, who was visiting her parents after a long time, pouted and protested:

“My parents are sensitive to cold, so they stay at their villa in Miami during winter. I can’t help that! And I couldn’t refuse when they suggested spending Christmas together with family after so long.”

“You’re using your parents as a shield so I can’t even bring it up?”

“When else would I use it?”

“So you’re not just good at spending your parents’ money.”

“Again, again, again!”

“Why are you two fighting over something like that?”

When Dexter spoke with a look of exasperation, Judy smiled broadly and said:

“Why argue on such a nice day? It’s rare for someone to invite all of us knowing our situation, and not just one or two of us but Jesse, me, and even Emily. They just want to spend Christmas together.”

After saying this, Judy grinned and pointed at the corners of Jesse’s ambiguous expression.

“Jesse is grateful deep down too.”

“…Fine, I admit it!”

When Jesse confessed the truth, Himena’s pout disappeared and she giggled.

“Oh, so that’s it? I thought Jesse was just trying to be annoying, but you were actually sulking?”

“Hey, don’t touch me. I said don’t touch! Get your hands off! Where are you trying to touch?”

“Come on, it’s a compliment! A compliment!”

“Get your hands off my chest!!”

“God, you’re noisy.”

Dexter grimaced and shook his head while checking the back through the rearview mirror.

Seeing Emily sleeping soundly with her head on Judy’s lap, Dexter said to Judy:

“She sleeps through all this noise?”

“She said she’s fine as long as Jesse isn’t grinding her teeth.”

“I’m not that loud, am I?”

“Well… since we moved to the new place, we’ve been rotating who sleeps next to Dexter. When Jesse grinds her teeth, I stroke her to make her stop.”

“…Am I really that bad?”

“No, it’s not terrible, just…”

As Judy tried to sugarcoat it, Jesse wrinkled her nose and rested her chin on the window, squeezing her eyes shut.

“Damn it. Maybe I should buy a mouthpiece…”

Meanwhile, Dexter and his group arrived at the villa where Himena’s parents were staying.

The entrance to the villa was closed with an iron gate, and two security guards in short-sleeved shirts were staring at Dexter’s car with stern expressions.

As one of the guards approached the driver’s side, Dexter lowered the window.

“Step back. This is private property.”

“Look behind me.”

Following Dexter’s suggestion, the guard looked back to see Himena winking and waving her hand.

“Mr. Spencer!”

“Oh, Miss!”

The startled guard took a step back and spoke into the radio on his shoulder.

“The young miss is coming in. Open the front gate.”

With those words, the iron gate opened, and the guard gave a slight nod.

Seeing this, Dexter whistled and smiled slyly.

“The rich really are different. ‘Young miss,’ huh?”

“…Don’t tease me too.”

“I’m just making an observation. Are you going to stop me from doing that too?”

As Dexter’s car passed through the main gate, everyone except the sleeping Emily and Himena, who was used to the place, had different reactions.

“It feels like I’m looking at Elijah’s summer villa.”

“Isn’t this the kind of place you only see in movies?”

“Should we really be here…”

Jesse looked intimidated, Judy was looking around in amazement, and Dexter, seeming to understand the atmosphere, casually parked the car in front of the garage.

As soon as Dexter stopped the car, a man in light clothing who had been waiting in front of the garage approached with a respectful bow.

“I’ll park the car if you give me the keys.”

“Ah, thank you. Judy, help with Emily. She’s going to keep sleeping at this rate.”

“Milly, wake up. We’re here.”

“Don’t wanna…”

“Come on, get up.”

“The most childlike person is taking care of others, and the most mature-looking one is acting like a child. Something’s not right here.”

“Leave her alone. Our Milly is so cute.”

“Oh brother.”

After Judy and Jesse practically carried Emily out, a middle-aged Latin man with graying hair appeared, dressed in a shirt and black dress pants despite the hot weather, and greeted them with formality.

“Miss Himena and guests. Thank you for coming all this way. Our attendants will take care of your luggage, please follow me.”

“Ah, yes.”

As Dexter’s group followed the middle-aged man, Dexter whispered to Himena:

“Himena, who is this?”

“He’s… the butler… Raul.”

Dexter stared at Himena as she hesitantly replied.

Himena wasn’t the type to flaunt her wealth—if you had to pick the most expensive thing she owned, it would probably just be her phone, not designer clothes from head to toe.

She had never shown off to other women about her family’s wealth.

‘How interesting.’

Rather than being proud, she seemed embarrassed, which was refreshing to Dexter.

Following the butler’s guidance, they entered the villa, and Himena’s family’s summer residence unfolded before their eyes.

The white and orange villa felt more like a small art museum than a house.

What caught Dexter’s eye were the peacocks and several flamingos roaming freely on the grassy garden.

Seeing the peacocks and flamingos wandering comfortably without any intention of escaping, Dexter blinked and asked Himena:

“Why are there birds here?”

“My mother likes them?”

‘Is that reason enough to keep them?’

Slightly confused from an ordinary person’s perspective, Dexter entered the villa to find a middle-aged Latin couple standing at the entrance.

The middle-aged man in a white shirt and dress pants and the woman in a beige dress both strongly resembled Himena’s features.

‘I think I’ve seen them on TV before.’

Dexter, who had seen the couple on a TV documentary about wealthy people’s lives a few months ago, observed them carefully.

Like Himena, they looked like ordinary people you might see anywhere, rather than world-controlling billionaires.

‘Except for their posture.’

Though they were just standing, they showed none of the fidgeting or nervous movements that others might display.

They merely glanced briefly at Dexter, who had entered first.

While Dexter hesitated momentarily, the dignified couple broke into wide smiles as soon as Himena entered and approached her. Himena also smiled brightly and ran to them, exclaiming:

“You should have waited in your room!”

“How could we when we’ve missed our daughter so much these past few years? You never come home because you’re always working.”

“Yes, our princess. Was the journey difficult?”

“Oh, Dad. Princess? There are other people here…”

Unlike the embarrassed Himena, the other women couldn’t help but smile at the heartwarming scene.

Of course, the expressionless Emily just rubbed her sleepy eyes and rested her chin on Jesse’s shoulder, slowly opening and closing her eyes.

After the touching reunion settled down a bit, Himena’s father extended his hand to Dexter.

“Pardon my late introduction. I’m Pablo, Himena’s father.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Hughes, Dexter.”

The warm gaze that had been directed at Himena moments ago disappeared, replaced by an icily cold stare as Pablo said:

“…Your great-grandfather was Howard Hughes?”

“I only found out recently myself. Hahaha.”

‘Would you look at that?’

An ordinary person might have tried to avoid Pablo’s gaze or been startled, but Dexter not only withstood the stare but even offered a light smile.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Isabella.”

“If you hadn’t said anything, I would have thought you were her sister.”

“My goodness, what are you saying?”

As Isabella covered her mouth and laughed as if embarrassed, Pablo cleared his throat and glanced at Dexter.

Unlike Isabella, who was secretly pleased, Pablo was lost in thought as he observed Dexter’s seemingly unconscious flattery.

‘No wonder Himena…’

Pablo knew that the three beautiful women with various charms standing before him, who appeared to be Himena’s friends, were actually Dexter’s girlfriends.

Although his daughter Himena had told him many things about Dexter, Pablo only half-believed what she said about him.

The reason was obvious.

‘He’ll probably make everything he does look good to her.’

When you love someone, even their smallest actions can seem wonderful—that’s what love is.

Pablo first heard about Dexter when Himena and he were solving the case related to Commander Olivia.

She had talked about male superiors or colleagues before, but those were merely biological distinctions, not romantic interests.

But when Pablo noticed how Himena would trail off or become shy whenever Dexter’s name came up, he asked about their relationship, and Himena told him everything straightforwardly.

From how Dexter played pranks on her when they first met, to how he helped solve many cases, his complicated history with women, and even stories about criminals Dexter had nearly killed. She even told him about going to space a few months ago to defeat villains threatening Earth.

Pablo had met many people in his life, but never someone like Dexter.

‘From the description, he sounded like a superhuman from a comic book, but in person, he just looks like someone who enjoys working out…’

Still, he was the thief who had stolen his daughter Himena’s heart.

When Pablo glared at him with irritated eyes, Isabella, who noticed her husband’s gaze, linked her arm with Pablo’s and naturally guided everyone elsewhere, saying:

“Where are my manners? Please come this way. You must be tired from your journey, let’s have some refreshments first.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Dexter avoided Pablo’s fiery gaze with an awkward smile, while the three women, except Himena, looked around while keeping an eye on the couple.

“Himena’s father seems to have been preparing for this.”

“I’d probably be the same. I have no idea how to tell my parents either.”

“You haven’t told them yet?”

“What about you, Jesse?”

“Me? I’m a child they’ve abandoned. Those people would give their blessing for a few bucks, but I don’t even want to see them.”

“Still, you should tell them.”

“We can’t legally get married anyway, so what’s the point?”

“Should I tell my parents too?”

At Emily’s question, Jesse pursed her lips, thought for a moment, then said:

“…Don’t your parents not even have a phone?”

“I still send letters occasionally.”

“You actually contact them?”

“I’m human too, so I at least keep in touch with my parents.”

“…It’s strange hearing you say that, Emily.”

And so, Dexter’s group and Himena’s parents had their first meeting in an awkward and subtle atmosphere.

* * *

At the OSA Florida branch control center, they were struggling with an unexpected landing request.

“This is control center. Identification code 0720, unauthorized landing is prohibited.”

[No! Someone on our spacecraft is sick! And we’re low on fuel! Control center, give us landing permission now! Otherwise, we’ll land anywhere we can see!]

Identification code 0720 was an unknown private spacecraft at 80,000 feet above Florida.

The control center, knowing only that 0720 was an unarmed spacecraft, desperately tried to communicate.

“0720, 0720. If you don’t respond properly, we’ll have no choice but to activate this planet’s defense system!”

[We’re landing! We’re going to land!]

With those words, 0720 began a rapid descent, prompting the controller to shout:

“0720!! Stop right now!!”

* * *

While Dexter briefly went to the bathroom, Pablo questioned the four women sitting in a row.

“What charm of Mr. Hughes captivated you?”

Jesse answered first:

“Well, he helped me the most when I was struggling.”

Next was Judy:

“He was always there when I needed him.”

Emily remained silent for a moment, then tapped her lips with her finger and said:

“Hmm, because I wanted to have him.”

“…That’s quite a bold answer.”

“But she’s the biggest crybaby here.”

When Himena chuckled and said this, Emily glared at her slightly and replied:

“I may have cried, but I’m not a crybaby.”

Pablo found the four women’s dynamic fascinating.

Unlike the historical noblewomen who schemed against each other to secure the position of queen, these women seemed to have a remarkably peaceful relationship.

‘They’re more like close friends.’

It was a moment when he realized not only Dexter’s character but also the extraordinarily unusual relationship between his daughter and these three women.

“Huh?”

Dexter’s confused voice came from outside the villa.

Along with it, a strong wind rushed into the villa, causing the four women and the Ribero couple to cover their faces with their arms and squeeze their eyes shut.

“…Is my vacation cursed?”

-BOOM!

With Dexter’s lament, those who opened their eyes saw him looking at the garden in front of the villa as the ground shook.

“What kind of jerk lands a spacecraft on someone else’s private property without permission?”

“S-spacecraft?”

Himena got up in confusion and approached the garden, but there were only four footprint-like impressions in the grass—otherwise, the garden looked normal.

“There’s nothing there.”

“It’s in stealth mode. Hey, either move your spacecraft or come out now!”

Dexter stepped forward and raised his hand to knock on the empty air, producing a clear metallic sound.

-Ting, ting!

“J-just a moment!”

At the sound of a young woman’s clear voice, Dexter crossed his arms and looked toward the source.

Soon, with the sound of air pressure being released, a door opened in mid-air, and stairs extended down to the ground.

From inside emerged what appeared to be a young woman who had just reached adulthood.

The problem was her attire.

She was wearing an elaborate, classical dress that looked like something from Imperial Russia, with a laser rifle slung over her back.

The woman looked around, and upon seeing the sturdy-built Dexter, rushed toward him and exclaimed:

“Sir, please save us!”

“…Excuse me?”

While Dexter was confused by the woman’s behavior, another person emerged from the spacecraft.

This one was a young man dressed in a black uniform with gold embellishments, also in a classical style, clutching his bleeding side.

Seeing this, Dexter turned to Himena and shouted:

“Himena, first aid kit! It should be in my carrier!”

“Got it! Just a moment! Uncle Raul! Uncle Raul!”

Due to the sudden turn of events, the Ribero couple was dumbfounded, while the other three women scattered to do what they could to help.