Author's Note: Hey guys! 2017 has proven to be one of the biggest years ever as I am taking a business course in Japanese, working full time, and taking Japanese lessons. I have been sooooooooo busy with work work or class work for the past four months. However, I am on vacation this week and decided to update this story. I actually wrote out the transcripts for the next five chapters. I just need to type them up and edit them.

Enjoy this chapter!

Last Time on Indomitable Hope:

"Vincent Keller? Is that you? Tori, what in hell are you doing with him?"

Tori stared at him, "He has no place to go and no one to turn to. So, being a kind and caring person that I am, I decided to give him shelter. I am going to ask you again, what are you doing where? What investigation are you conducting now?"

"It's none of your damn business. It's official police business that I can't tell you about."

The ADA abruptly stood up and turn his back to the woman, trying to find any clues to his "investigation".

"Then I suggest that you tell me right now or leave immediately," she splatted as she began to transform into her beast form. "I suggest you leave right this moment or I WILL shred you to pieces."

"Who was that?"

The question brought a certain red-head back to reality. Just moments ago, a particular brown-noser broke into the manor and seemingly tried to steal secrets from her father's experimental projects.

Gabe Lowren.

She knew that name fairly well. His name always came up in various reports hidden in the file cabinets down here. These intense findings were on different topics about Muirfield and their experiments. She also caught the organization's name in passing whenever her dad mentioned about Muirfield. Or, on the occasion that he would meet with a certain group of confidantes.

Tori knew Gabe's story all too well. A poor orphan from the darkest, dirtiest streets of India. Saved by one of Muirfield's scientists at the time, Dr. Vanessa Chandler, Muirfield was sort of a paradox as it was Gabe's saving grace but at a price. Somehow, there was some sort of light beckoning on that dark path as he became a well-known and respected public official. But, that didn't matter to Tori as she viewed him as an enemy. As for Muirfield, of course, and even for her dad's mysterious affairs.

She turned to the dark-haired figure beside her. "It was nothing. He was just an old family friend.

I think it's time for lunch. I'm starving. Let's go to the kitchen to get something to eat. "

And by that sweet command, Tori took a hold of Vincent's left hand and briskly lead him upstairs, towards the kitchen. While en route, the pair passed by the living room where heavy breathing was heard. The red-headed woman turned her eyes towards the sound to find out that it was coming from her father who seemed to be in trouble.

"Dad, what is wrong? What happened?"

Worry etched in Tori's soft features as she scanned her father to see if anything was wrong with him externally. She was expecting her dad's eyes to show pain in them. However, she saw something quite different. The woman saw dark anger inside.

"I am ok. But, that damn N.Y.P.D! They are always trying to butt their own affairs into mine. I don't know how in the hell those maids let two bumbling detectives in.

Tori, please make a note that this manor will forbid any kind of police departments to enter here as they please from now on. Understand?*

She nodded gently in agreeance. "How many were here?"

"There were two. One was a female and the other was a male but a prick."

"Actually dad, there were three of them here. An extra one was able to slither into the basement. And, it's someone you know probably well. It was none other than ADA Gabe Lowen."

Upon hearing that name, Mr. Winsor's face tensed up as a wave of unpleasant memories came about. He remembered the middle-aged ADA quite well. From the first time when the elder Windsor saw Gabe at the Muirfield labs to recently in top secret documents, detailing how Muirfield was spying on their former guinea pigs.

"Is that good-to-nothing ADA snooping my manor as well?"

"Weill, it's complex. But, I have one short answer to save you from the long story."

At that moment, she gestured to the tall man to come out from his hiding place in the shadows of the hallway. The dark-haired man walked towards the father and daughter.

"Tori, is this the Vincent Keller that has been the talk of the town at Muirfield's headquarters? How did he get here? And, what happened to him? The last I heard about him was that he was kidnapped by someone thought to be a Muirfield agent about three months ago."

"Like I said, it's a long and complex story. However, I did rescue him when he was at the park, attacking some poor, defenseless woman. I think he has been under the care of that FBI agent who calls himself Reynolds. I heard he is the head of a new black sheep project on new types of "beasts" yet it is unrelated to Muirfield.

Nevertheless, Vincent's memories have been mysteriously wiped clean while his abilities were heightened."

The mention of Reynolds, another person who used to be related to Muirfield but now Windsor's enemy, made the billionaire's blood boil.

"How dare he try to meddle in Muirfield's affairs! I have been trying so hard to fix the problems which that backstabbing group caused throughout the years. Tori, just keep an eye on him for a while, if you can."

The elder man turned his eyes towards the younger one. "Ahh, Vincent Keller. I have heard a lot about you since you escaped from Muirfield's labs in Afghanistan. Tori has told me that Mr. Reynolds was able to get a hold of you before anyone else could. I'm quite surprised that you were able to elude from Muirfield for a great deal of time. How did you do that?"

Vincent clinched the right side of his head as he answered. "I don't know exactly, sir. I don't know a lot about myself. It seems that you know more about me than I do. Maybe you can help fill in the blanks."

"There's so much to tell about," the elder man spoke, "I don't know where to start or how long will the tale take. However, I assumed that my daughter has filled in some of the blanks and been trying to figure out what has happened to you. I will let her continue to do so as I need to get going or I will be late for a meeting with a business partner."

Mr. Windsor walked towards his daughter and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. He then whispered in her ear, "I hope you are still considering going to the mayor's ball in one week's time. Now that you have a date."

Tori gasped as she eyed her dad with concern. He just smirked.

"Don't worry, it's a masquerade. I am great at secret identities."