According to the fundantal principle of Murphy's Law, if sothing has the potential to go wrong, no matter how small that possibility may be, it will inevitably happen...
The unexpected incident occurred one afternoon, roughly a week after Bruce Banner had fallen into Samuel Sterns' clutches.
Sean maintained the mindset of an observer, quietly waiting to see how this spectacle would conclude. After all, the imprisoned Dr. Banner was in no mortal danger, and using him to lure out the long-hidden Hydra wasn't a bad strategy.
However, as Murphy's Law states, nothing is ever as simple as it appears on the surface... The power-hungry Samuel Sterns saw the serum samples extracted from Banner as his ticket to the pinnacle of success.
In addition to collaborating with Hydra agents operating under the guise of S.H.I.E.L.D., he also anonymously listed the samples on the black market, which inadvertently caught the attention of Justin Hamr. This chain of events led to the absurd farce that was about to unfold...
...
It was the day before Halloween...
Withered yellow leaves spiraled through the air as they fell, and shops along the streets peddled all sorts of costus and monster masks. Large shopping centers were adorned with colorful pumpkin-shaped lights.
Tonight would be a night of revelry, as New Yorkers poured out of their hos in droves to participate in grand parades. The city would soon be teeming with vampires, witches, Frankensteins, and other famous characters, as if a massive masquerade ball were about to comnce.
That afternoon, Sean was out with Betty...
Not long ago, the general's beloved daughter had visited Umbrella, the research institution hailed by newspapers as a "rising star"...
The visit had left her pleasantly surprised. The top-tier professional teams, the formidable resources, and groundbreaking achievents like the artificial intelligence Red Queen had left her in awe.
For now, their relationship hovered at a stage where both harbored favorable impressions of each other. Sean wasn't in any hurry to beco General Ross's son-in-law.
Besides, being raised in a military family, Betty maintained a reserved deanor. Getting her to open up wouldn't be easy.
Unexpectedly, however, his aloof yet ambiguous attitude proved more effective than relentless pursuit.
After leaving an elegant restaurant, Sean and Betty strolled down the street. New York in November was alive with the festive atmosphere of the approaching holiday. Walking side by side, they kept physical intimacy to a minimum.
"I heard you'll be returning to school in Virginia soon?" the young man asked softly.
"Probably after Christmas. I'll be going back to Culver University," Betty replied with a slight nod, casting an almost imperceptible glance at him before quickly looking away.
Her impression of Sean was peculiar. On the surface, he appeared gentle and humble, yet beneath that facade lay an arrogance that disregarded everything.
Normally, such a trait would be off-putting, but when paired with his exceptional talent and capabilities, it beca the kind of self-assured charm unique to geniuses.
Betty was like a dancer swaying to a slow lody...
First, she had developed an interest in probing Sean's depths, then curiosity about his true nature, and gradually, she found herself drawn further in... a dangerous precursor.
Won on the brink of falling in love often went through this process.
Recognizing this possibility, the general's daughter resisted it with all her might.
As a rational young woman, her sharp intuition told her that the seemingly bright and sunny young man was, in reality, brimming with danger... He was unfathomable and elusive, the hardest type to grasp in the ga of love.
After careful consideration, she decided to keep her distance from Sean, extracting herself before she could fall into the illusory trap of romance.
"I thought you might consider my suggestion," Sean said, sounding sowhat regretful as he let out a light sigh.
Seeing the faint disappointnt on his youthful face, Betty's resolve wavered. Her heart softened, 'Am I being too harsh? Maybe he really did an well?'
"Won't you think about it again? Staying in New York might not be a bad idea," Sean said in a neutral tone, though his gaze burned with hidden intensity.
His usually deep eyes locked onto Betty, the tenderness within them almost lted her defenses.
The electrifying pre-Halloween atmosphere, the bustling streets, the softly glowing lights, and the laughter around them... everything seed to whisper to the typically rational girl, urging her to accept his sincere request. It was as though Cupid's arrow was already nocked and ready to fly.
"Sean, what a coincidence running into you here..." A voice brimming with delight shattered the warm and romantic mood.
Betty turned to see Gwen Stacy, an employee at Umbrella whom she had t while touring Dr. Connors' lab. Beside her stood Maya Hansen, another high-ranking figure in the company.
Gwen's face lit up with surprise at first, but when she noticed Betty standing beside Sean, her expression faltered.
Being no stranger to complicated situations, the young man sighed inwardly, 'This is going to be ssy...'
...
Five minutes later, the four of them sat in a café...
Gwen's gaze lingered on Betty. She knew exactly who the other woman was... the only daughter of a powerful general, a perfect match for the accomplished Sean, not to ntion beautiful, intelligent, and academically outstanding...
A sour feeling welled up in her chest, and the usually cheerful blonde hung her head in dejection.
Betty observed all of this. She deliberately sat close to Sean, their postures appearing intimate yet still maintaining a sliver of distance.
The general's daughter didn't even know why she was doing this. She had no intention of diving into the whirlpool of romance, yet the mont Gwen appeared, so inexplicable emotion drove her to this ridiculous behavior... She was like a proud swan declaring ownership to the world.
Maya Hansen, the amused spectator, watched with a smile. She was content to stay out of it. She hadn't expected the young boss to be as much of a playboy as Tony Stark, leaving a trail of romantic entanglents in his wake.
Trapped at the center of this battlefield, Sean considered lightening the mood with so pleasant small talk.
But one glance at Gwen's tearful and pitiful expression, and another at Betty, who was warm and soft beside him, left him at a loss for words.
'Shouldn't protagonists naturally excel at managing harems?' he mused to himself.
"I'll be right back. I just need to use the restroom," Sean said, setting down his coffee and discreetly signaling to Maya before excusing himself...
...
Not long after Sean entered the restroom, a group of burly and imposing n followed.
One of them placed a 'Cleaning in Progress' sign at the door before locking it behind them.
"Mr. Cyphers, my boss would like a word with you."
The leader of the group, a hulking man with a face full of nace, smirked as he watched the young man splash cold water on his face...
~~~
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