" Clint..." Natasha couldn't help but cover her mouth, her eyes quickly welling up with tears.
Hawkeye glanced at the sorrowful Natasha, a touch of tenderness appearing on his hardened face.
"Don't be sad, Nat."
"Actually, I'm very grateful to Director Nick for sending Laura to my side..."
"Her appearance brought me back to a world of sunshine!"
"She and the children are my salvation!"
Richard exclaimed upon hearing this, "A very touching story, Mr. Clint Barton!"
"It's a pity you're thanking the wrong person..."
Hawkeye turned to Richard, his expression quickly turning cold. " Richard, I don't understand why you keep slandering Director Nick..."
"But I'm pretty sure we're not on the same wavelength!"
" Clint..." Natasha called out quickly, afraid that he would anger Richard, as Hawkeye's strength was beyond his ability to resist!
Richard saw through her thoughts and smiled gently, "I'm not angry, Natasha..."
"In addition..."
He looked at Hawkeye and said solemnly.
"I have no personal grudge against Nick Fury, but his actions are truly despicable!"
" Agent Barton, as one of Nick Fury's most trusted men, were you aware that he commands a group of Skrulls can transform into other people?"
Hawkeye paused, startled. "What Skrulls?"
Richard chuckled, "Ha, I knew it! Nick Fury's suspicious nature makes him never trust anyone..."
He then explained to Hawkeye, "In the 1990s, Nick Fury accidentally saved a group of alien refugees!"
"These alien refugees are Skrulls of the universe!"
" The Skrulls are natural-born spies; they can transform and disguise themselves as anyone or any animal they ever see!"
At this point, Richard Fulin suddenly had an idea.
"If Nick Fury finds out that Laura Barton has fallen in love with you, given his suspicious nature, he will never believe in Laura's loyalty again!"
"No! Mrs. Barton has given you three children, Nick Fury must know that!"
Hawkeye's expression changed drastically in an instant, and Natasha also gasped, her face turning deathly pale.
Richard uttered a chilling truth. " Laura Barton has probably been replaced by the Skrulls!"
"No! You're lying!" Hawkeye glared menacingly at Richard, his once resolute gaze now filled with panic and helplessness.
Natasha, suppressing her inner shock, pressed down on Hawkeye's hand gripping the mechanical bow. " Clint, calm down! What we need to do now is verify Richard's guess!"
Hawkeye closed his eyes in agony, his chest heaving violently. He gritted his teeth, a trickle of blood slowly seeping from the corner of his mouth. "I'm sorry, Nat, I have to go home!"
"Let Richard take you back!" Natasha turned her head and quickly spat out an address. " Eagle's Nest Valley Farm, western Appalachian Mountains, upstate New York!"
Richard raised his hand and drew a circle, and a Crimson Portal quickly opened.
"Let's go!" Natasha grabbed Hawkeye's arm and rushed into the Portal.
Eagle's Nest Valley Farm.
Hawkeye gazed at the familiar house, yet hesitated to take a step.
"Now is not the time for you to hesitate, Clint!" Natasha shoved him hard from behind.
Hawkeye took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and stepped forward.
Natasha held Richard's hand and followed behind him.
Just then, Hawkeye's daughter, Lila Barton, came bounding out of the room with a ball in her arms. She turned around, saw Hawkeye, and immediately dropped the ball in delight.
"Dad!"
She cheered and dashed over.
"Lila!" Hawkeye opened his arms and hugged his daughter.
"Daddy, I missed you so much!" Lila hugged her father's neck affectionately, turning her head and shouting, "Mommy, Mommy, Daddy's back!"
Laura Barton, wearing an apron, and Cooper Barton, carrying a tablecloth, ran out one after the other.
" Clint (Dad)!"
The two exclaimed in surprise.
Hawkeye strode over, put his arm around his wife, and nodded to his eldest son.
" Laura, I'm back!"
Looking at Hawkeye's weathered face, Laura tenderly reached out and stroked his cheek. "Why do you look so haggard? How long will you be able to rest this time?"
Looking at his wife's distressed eyes, Hawkeye opened his mouth, hesitated, and said, "I..."
Fortunately, Natasha came to his rescue in time. "Hey, Laura!"
Laura turned her head and saw Natasha, her face lighting up with surprise. " Nat?!"
Upon seeing Richard, whom Natasha was holding hands with, she asked with a somewhat strange expression, "And who is this?"
Natasha blushed and hurriedly let go of Richard's hand. "He's my friend, Richard."
Laura raised her hand in greeting, "Welcome to Eagle's Nest Valley Farm, Richard."
"Hello, Mrs. Barton ..." Richard replied with a smile, but a crimson flame of Mana instantly ignited in his eyes.
Laura froze, then exclaimed in surprise, " Richard, you...!"
Hawkeye reacted instantly, quickly putting down Lila and shifting his feet to shield his wife and child behind him.
However, even so, Laura's true nature could not escape Richard's Mana eye's Insight.
Beneath Laura's human exterior lies a strikingly green hue!!!
Natasha tugged at Richard's sleeve and looked at him questioningly.
Richard?
Richard shook his head regretfully.
Natasha's face instantly darkened, and she gritted her teeth as she cursed, "Damn Nick Fury!"
Hawkeye saw everything the two were doing, and his heart sank to the bottom...
Laura, shielding the children, asked with a puzzled look, " Nat? Clint? What happened to you?"
Lila, frightened, hurriedly clung to her mother's leg, timidly calling out, "Daddy, Mommy..."
Hawkeye slowly lowered his head, his body trembling uncontrollably...
Richard sighed, slipped behind Laura, and gently tapped Cooper and Lila's necks with his fingers. The two little ones immediately fainted.
He grabbed one in each arm, then darted back to his original spot and placed them with Natasha.
Laura looked back and, realizing the children were gone, cried out in alarm, " Cooper! Lila!"
She rushed out from behind Hawkeye in a panic, only to find the missing child unconscious in Natasha's arms. A surge of anger rose within her. " Nat? Clint? What happened?"
Hawkeye lowered his head and remained silent, his fists clenched so tightly that drops of blood seeped from between his fingers and fell to the ground.
Richard looked astonished and exclaimed, "What terrifying emotional synchronization!"
"Mrs. Barton, do you even remember who you are?"
Laura paused, then instinctively said, "I'm Laura Barton! Clint's..."
Her words came to an abrupt halt, and then her face began to twitch and struggle.
"No! I'm not Laura! I'm Avina!"
"I am... Laura! I have... a husband and children!"
"No! I am Avina! I am Skrulls!"
She clutched her head in anguish, crying and screaming:
Laura?!
" Avina?!"
"Who I am?!"
Who am I?!
With each frantic scream, a green glow spread across her face...