Eight years later.

Alice entered her father's office and saw him sitting in front of the window, aloof and worried.

“Dad? Are you all right?” she asked, approaching her.

Nick smiled, hugging her. “Hi, honey, you're out of school early! I thought you had your final exams.”

Alice had gotten into Stanford University at thirteen, and Valeria, Nick, and the twins had moved to San Francisco.

“Well, I did, but some idiot apparently didn't think he could pass the exam, so he triggered the fire alar