Luca was somewhat at a loss.
How many years has it been?
He hadn't seen his parents for almost twenty years.
Countless days and nights, he longed to see them again, even if only in his dreams.
But now, with his parents standing alive and well in front of him, he didn't know what to say.
His excitement was stuck in his throat, making him unsure how to speak.
Howard noticed Luca's agitation and assumed it was due to the shock of the recent close call.
After thinking for a moment, he offered another word of comfort.
"Young man, thank you so much for your help. But... what happened to you? Do you need any assistance?"
Luca took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.
I gaze at my father's face, which, though aged, is still full of wisdom, and then at my mother's gentle eyes.
Finally, with trembling lips, he uttered the word he had rehearsed countless times in his mind.
"Father."
After these words were spoken, the atmosphere became quiet.
Howard and Maria were both stunned.
They looked at each other, completely bewildered, having no idea what had happened.
Maria was the first to get restless.
She took a step forward and carefully examined Luca's face.
Seeing those familiar eyebrows and eyes, seeing those features that are exactly like Howard's, and that strange feeling of being connected by blood.
After a long while, Maria's tears also flowed.
She reached out her trembling hand and gently stroked Luca's cheek.
Then, she spoke gently, "The future... it must have caused you a lot of suffering, Luca."
Luca was stunned.
Howard was also stunned.
Only then did he take a closer look at the young man in front of him.
Howard was one of the most brilliant scientists of his time.
Considering Luca's appearance, his mention of "father," and the illogical attack methods he just used...
The clever Howard immediately guessed what it was.
Luca was somewhat bewildered when his mother called him by his name.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he stammered, "I... I... Mom, how did you know it was me?"
With tears in her eyes, Maria gently stroked Luca's hair and said with a smile.
"Silly child, you are my child. How could there be a mother in this world who doesn't recognize her own child?"
Howard finally understood.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock.
Then he stepped forward, gave Luca a tight hug, and patted him on the shoulder heavily.
He hesitated for a moment, then said in a serious and proud tone.
"You did a great job this time, Luca."
Luca paused for a moment, then hugged his father tightly in return.
It's important to know that in Luca's memory, his father Howard was always a strict father who was very stingy with praise for his children.
But this time, Howard gave Luca the greatest affirmation in an awkward way.
After releasing the embrace, Luca took another deep breath and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
He looked at his parents and spoke somewhat shyly.
"I'm sorry, I lost control of my emotions. You... have been gone for almost twenty years. I haven't seen you in so long."
The two of them were taken aback by these words.
Howard then looked around at the horrific scene and then at the assassin lying in a pool of blood.
"So, this is the one, right?" Howard asked calmly.
Luca hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes. On this day in 1991, you were assassinated. The outside world's version of the truth is that you were only in a car accident."
But as it turns out, that wasn't the case.
As he spoke, Luca pointed to the murderer on the ground, who had lost both his legs.
Howard nodded, then walked up to the killer.
The assailant, through his powerful regenerative abilities, had stopped the bleeding and pain from the severed leg.
He was staring at them with cold, emotionless eyes.
Howard crouched down and ripped the mask off the killer's face.
Howard and Maria were taken aback when they saw the face behind the mask.
Howard's eyes widened, and he said softly.
" Bucky?"
Maria covered her mouth and shook her head repeatedly.
"That's absolutely impossible!"
Luca stepped forward, frowning, and asked, "Who is Bucky? So the killer's name is Bucky?"
Howard stood there stunned for a long time, trying to call Bucky's name a few times, but the other guy didn't respond at all, his eyes still as cold as a machine.
He then sighed, realizing that the other person had definitely been brainwashed.
So he quickly stood up and looked at Luca.
His eyes held a complex expression, and after hesitating for a few seconds, he began to explain.
" Luca, it seems our family is being targeted. It's Bucky Barnes, one of the members of the Howling Commandos back in the day."
"He is also Captain America Steve Rogers ' best friend, and a good friend of ours."
"But during World War II, he had already fallen off a cliff and died in an accident during a mission."
Luca's brow furrowed even more deeply after hearing this.
A person who should have died decades ago has come back to life and even came to assassinate his best friend?
And judging from his appearance, he doesn't even recognize his parents.
But Luca quickly shook his head, his eyes turning cold.
"Whether he did it willingly or not, no matter who brainwashed him, he deserves to die!"
"Forgiving him is God's job, and what I should do is send him to meet God."
As he spoke, Luca raised his hand, ready to finish off the assassin.
Seeing the change in Luca's expression, Howard immediately understood what his son was thinking and quickly reached out to stop Luca.
This wasn't because he was suddenly kind-hearted; rather, he had discovered something terrifying.
Moreover, he cannot leave his children with a psychological burden.
"Wait a minute, kid." Howard looked at Luca with a serious expression.
"No matter how you got here, no matter what methods you used, this world has already been changed because of your presence."
"You can't change anything anymore. The Bucky you're supposed to kill is from your world, not him here. You must kill him from your world! Don't let him go!"
"The version of him in this world can only be left to us, to you and Tony in this world to kill."
"And now, you should go back to where you belong."
Luca paused, then asked, puzzled, "Why? I went through so much trouble to save you."
Howard sighed and slowly explained to Luca.
"This is a problem of spacetime paradox. If you kill him here, or excessively alter the existing future, it could have unpredictable consequences for this world, and even the world you inhabit."
"You've saved us, that's enough."
"But when you get back, you absolutely cannot let him get away with it! Understand, son!"
Howard looked at Luca, his eyes filled with deep paternal love.
" Luca, remember, no matter what the future holds, a man of the Stark Family, never let anyone sway your thoughts. Do what you want to do, and protect the ones you love."
"Also, when you get back, give Tony my regards. Tell him I've always been proud of you guys."
Maria stepped forward and hugged Luca again.
"Go home, my child. You and Tony must live well in the future. Mom loves you both."
Luca looked at his parents, his eyes welling up with tears again.
Then, he nodded heavily.
The real world.
In the hotel room.
Pietro huddled in the corner of the room, trembling all over.
In the center of the room, Wanda and Luca remained motionless in the same position.
Both of them stood frozen in place.
Pietro felt that Luca was absolutely terrifying right now.
At this moment, a powerful white-blue energy field erupted from Luca's body.
This energy field enveloped Wanda and Luca.
Pietro couldn't get even half a step closer.
He tried to rush over to save his sister, but as soon as he touched the edge of the energy field, he was thrown away by the immense force.
Pietro was so anxious he was almost in tears.
He didn't know what was going on with Luca.
Could it be that my sister did something to Luca in the illusion, causing the monster to go berserk?
Just as Pietro was at a loss...
"Call!"
Wanda suddenly gasped, snapping back to reality.
At the same time, the energy field around Luca also disappeared.
Wanda's legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, her forehead covered in cold sweat.
Wanda! Are you alright?
Pietro scrambled over to help his sister.
Wanda ignored her brother and instead looked up at Luca, who still had his eyes closed, with a complicated expression.
She had seen everything that had just happened in the illusion.
Moreover, because she was the one who initiated the magic, her spirit was connected to Luca's.
Therefore, she clearly sensed all of Luca's emotional fluctuations within the illusion.
This can be described as genuine empathy.
She sensed the despair and madness Luca felt when he thought about the deaths of his loved ones.
She sensed Luca's ruthlessness in protecting his family, a ruthlessness that would rather destroy everyone.
She also sensed Luca's suppressed longing and vulnerability when he saw his parents, a longing that had been building up for twenty years.
Wanda always believed that the Stark Family were Coldblood capitalists, demons who created death.
But now, she realizes she was wrong.
This Playboy, who appears to have no moral bottom line, is actually a pitiful person who longs for family affection and love.
Their parents were also brutally murdered when they were very young.
In some ways, Luca is the same kind of person as his brother and sister.
At this moment, Wanda's heart was filled with contradictions and complex emotions.
Her hatred for Luca wavered somewhat after feeling that profound sorrow.
Just then...
Luca's eyelids twitched slightly.
Then, he slowly opened his eyes.