---- Chapter 28: Long Time No See, Top Lawyer! Aaron caught sight of Clara and Leo packing up their gear and asked, "You guys heading out for some fun?" Leo bounced on his toes. "Yeah, yeah! We're going hiking with Elsie!" Aaron glanced at Clara and asked, "Mind if Dad tags along?" Clara ducked her eyes, wanting to dodge the question. "Maybe next time-we already made plans." Aaron masked his disappointment but kept a calm face. "I'll drive you there." Clara shook her head. "No need, it's easier to catch a ride." Since parking at Fortuna Peak's base was a nightmare, Sierra hadn't planned to drive. Aaron pressed on, "It's no trouble. I've got to ---- swing by the firm later anyway. Let's grab breakfast first." Clara had no choice but to text Sierra: "Wait at the neighborhood gate. Aaron's driving us." Her phone buzzed instantly with a reply: "!!!" At the gate, Clara waved to Sierra, who was waiting by the curb. Once inside the car, Aaron turned around with a grin. "Nice to meet you!" Sierra shot back, "Long time no see, top lawyer!" Aaron blinked, "Wait... have we met?" Sierra laughed, "Are you kidding? I've seen you on TV! You're that famous hotshot lawyer!" With Sierra around, things never got dull. Throw in two kids laughing and goofing off, and the trip up Fortuna Peak flew by in a flash. They bought entrance and cable car tickets, grabbed two giant pinwheels, and started hiking. As the cable car climbed, the trees thickened, ---- the air smelled fresher, and Clara's mood lifted, pushing away the gloom of the last few days. "We really should get out more-this air's like a reset button." Sierra nodded, "You were right. Hiking all the way up without the cable car would've killed us." Clara chuckled, "It's only about eleven hundred feet... but hauling two kids? That's a workout." "Mom! Mont! Is that the temple where the little monk from the story lives?" Leo pointed excitedly to a temple halfway up the mountain. Elsie bounced, "Ooh, what story? Tell us!" "Alright!" Clara grinned. "Once upon a time, there was a temple on this mountain. Inside lived an old monk and a little monk..." Before she could go on, Sierra burst out laughing. "Are you just making stuff up again?" Clara shot her a glare. "Don't interrupt!" She kept going, "The little monk was sent by his parents to train at the temple, which forbade meat. He struggled with the diet until one day, ---- while begging for alms with his master, someone gave him a roasted chicken. He hid it from the master." "That night, just as he was about to take a bite, the master knocked on his door. Panicked, the little monk tossed the chicken into the nearby stream. The next day, he dove into the water and, to his surprise, found the chicken! It had soaked overnight, but hadn't spoiled-it tasted even better: cold, crispy, and delicious! That's how Fortuna Roast Chicken became famous in Greystone!" The kids' eyes sparkled with amazement. "We wanna try it!" Clara nodded, "Tonight, we're hitting the mountain's best Fortuna Roast Chicken restaurant." Sierra sighed, nostalgic. "Your mom's roast chicken used to be legendary! Never knew there was a story behind it." Clara thought of her mom, a fantastic cook who'd never come back to Greystone after Clara