Ricardo's cold calculations of worth, and the sincerity and frankness in his words, left Nova and Li Qinwu deeply rueful.
So cold!
Oh, right. The last time you went back to the family, they treated you badly because you had no value.
Now that you had value, you could go home. The family would support you because of the value you possessed.
The family would not admit fault. This was simply how the family worked.
Those cold calculations silenced Nova, who had come running over excitedly to show off.
Ricardo held out his hand to Nova again.
"Well? Nova, come with me. Bring Troy home. This time, the family will welcome you through the front gates!"
Nova turned to look at Li Qinwu, who shrugged.
"It's your choice. For a child like Troy, becoming the head of a minor family under one of Terra's great families would be an achievement many people could never attain in their entire lives."
Nova lowered her head and carefully considered it.
As a widow, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to Troy. As long as Troy had a bright future, she was willing to do anything!
Whether to keep roaming the universe with Li Qinwu, this space warlord, or return to Terra, the birthplace of humanity's rise, truly was a momentous choice.
Li Qinwu and Ricardo stood before Nova, one on either side, like two major forks in her life. Choosing one meant losing the exciting life offered by the other.
For a time, Nova did not know what to choose, until Troy grew tired of being held in her arms. He struggled down to the floor, ran a few steps over to Li Qinwu, and hugged his leg.
"Daddy, I want to eat big fruit, meow!"
Li Qinwu's expression changed on the spot. He picked