I stared at him, unwilling to waste words. Instead, I asked directly, “Where’s Neil?” The question was like a weight pressing on my chest, and this man before me was the only one who could answer it.
Ken Yimo’s expression was one of indifference, as he replied coolly, “Neil? He’s resting. He’s very simple-minded. As long as I tell him to stay put, he won’t wander off. So, unlike with you, I don’t have to keep him chained up.” His words dripped with a detached cruelty, as though Neil were nothing more than a toy he could control at will. My fists clenched involuntarily, and a simmering anger began to burn within me.
I knew then—Ken Yimo must have done something to manipulate Neil or force him into submission. I wanted to press him further, but Ken spoke first, a sly smile twisting across his face. “Ah, but it seems that when kids grow up, they’re not so easy to keep
Ken Yimo simply gave a cold smile, completely dismissing my warnings. There was no trace of pity or warmth in his eyes as he turned and walked out of the cell. I stood there, helpless and furious, watching him leave, fully aware that I was trapped here and powerless to stop him. As the heavy door slowly closed behind him, a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me, and despair and anguish surged in my chest. I was locked in this cold, isolated cell, surrounded by thick stone walls that shut out even the faintest trace of light, leaving me in total darkness. There was no way to reach out, no phone, no tool to call for help. My thoughts began to be consumed by the shadows, yet Neil's face lingered in my mind, refusing to fade. Would he, once again, fall prey to Ken Yimo’s control and cruelty, triggering another episode of sleepwalking? The thought twisted my heart with an unshakable sense of dread and fear. As night fell, darkness engulfed
Harry stood in the shadows, a subtle smile playing on his lips, his eyes radiating calm confidence. “Of course,” he replied, raising an eyebrow with that trademark mix of humor and certainty, as though he had the situation effortlessly under control. Harry was always like this—composed, astute, unwavering—seemingly born with the spirit of a fighter who refused to bow to fate. I looked at him, filled with gratitude and relief. The bond between us had long surpassed life, death, and honor; no matter the crisis, he was always there.As he turned his gaze toward Ken Yimo, a ripple of relief ran through me. Yes, Ken Yimo had indeed gone to Harry rather than taking some darker course of action. Unable to contain myself, I asked, “Ken Yimo, I’ll admit, I’m glad you actually brought Harry. Now, what about Neil?” My voice betrayed a hint of urgency, a worry that was impossible to hide. Neil’s condition had been weighi
At that moment, I noticed two figures standing in the doorway—Harry and Ken Yimo. They seemed to be quietly listening to our conversation. A surge of anger rose within me, and I decided to ask Neil another question, one that I knew would make Ken Yimo hear it more clearly. I leaned in slightly and, in a soft voice, asked, “Do you ever get mad at your dad? Do you ever feel frustrated with him, like he’s making you really tired?”Neil shook his head, smiling as he said, “No, Daddy loves me a lot. I like him too, and a little tiredness isn’t a big deal.” His eyes met mine, sincere and pure, as though there wasn’t an ounce of resentment in him.My heart tightened at his words, and seeing his smile, I felt a pang of sorrow deep inside. I gently laid him back on the bed and softly said, “It’s alright, Neil. Sleep for a little longer. Once you’ve had enough rest, we’ll talk som
Ethan continued, “Afterward, Maria seemed to try and find KY again, and she managed to track him down once. But seeing his resolve, she ultimately taught him a spell to hide his tracks, and they never had any contact after that. Ken Yimo had disappeared from our world completely, silently concealing his presence, burying his pain and his past deep within himself.“At that moment, a new realization struck me, and I muttered softly, “No wonder he’s always been so low-key. He must have used magic to hide himself.” Once, I had thought his reticence and mystery were signs of coldness and indifference, but now, knowing the truth, I couldn’t help but feel a silent understanding.Ethan replied, "Yeah, I didn’t think of it at first either. But looking back, when he found out you were a werewolf, he didn’t seem surprised at all—more like it was something he’d seen many times before." His word
The second story depicted the bittersweet pain of unrequited love. The boy had secretly harbored feelings for his childhood friend for years but never found the courage to confess. He watched helplessly as the person he loved found someone else, all the while remaining at a distance, silently protecting them from afar. It wasn’t until one day, when the other finally noticed his feelings, that the boy panicked and ran away, preferring to live with the quiet ache of unspoken love rather than face the pain of loss.Neil, sitting beside me, had started sniffing softly, clearly moved by the boy’s quiet and humble affection. He instinctively clenched my hand, and I felt a pang in my chest. I could see that he understood the deep sadness behind that unvoiced yearning. It was as though he too had felt that kind of unexpressed longing, and it tugged at something within me.The third story was about a love that spanned across age, where th
Neil turned to look at Ken Yimo, as if encouraged by the presence of his new friends. He reached out and took Ken Yimo's hand, his voice filled with innocence and excitement. "Daddy, these are my new friends. They're really nice to me." His tone was proud, eager to show his father the people he had grown close to. Ken Yimo gave a small nod, his expression still calm, but there was a flicker of something more complex in his gaze. Despite his usual facade, I could tell that there was a mixture of emotions he was trying to mask. He smiled, though it seemed somewhat strained, and asked, "Is that so? Do you really like them?" There was no trace of the possessiveness that typically lingered in his words, and for a moment, it seemed like he genuinely wanted to know Neil's feelings. Neil nodded enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yes! I really like them. They're all so nice! I’m sure you’ll like them too, and we can all be good friends!" His words came out with pure since
Ken Yimo lowered his gaze, his voice barely audible as he murmured, “Is that so?” There was a hint of doubt in his tone, as if the words had started to make him reconsider.Maria gave a soft, knowing smile, her voice slow and deliberate as she replied, “Isn’t it? Your excessiveness hurt Neil.” Her words were gentle yet unwavering, each one carrying an undeniable force, as if she were quietly reminding him of the responsibility he had neglected.Ken Yimo lowered his head even further, falling into a silence that spoke volumes. He didn’t argue, as if conceding to Maria’s words without uttering a sound. His silence felt like an unspoken acknowledgment, his cold eyes betraying the internal conflict now brewing within him.Maria, noticing his silence, allowed a small, almost imperceptible smile to tug at the corner of her lips. She continued softly, “Neil is such a sweet boy, who could resist liking him? When I first met him, I was immediately drawn to him. Despite being twins, he’s so dif
Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh. "Don’t mind those two fools," I said with a chuckle, "But aside from that, what else do you like about me?" My voice had a curious edge to it, though I noticed Maria glancing at me with a warning look, silently urging me not to push too far.Neil’s voice softened slightly, as though he were contemplating the question. “Hmm… I like Ryan because I feel like Ryan is like family to me. He cares about me, protects me.” His words carried a tenderness that warmed my heart, and I couldn’t help but feel comforted by his simple trust."Family?" I repeated his words softly, a tinge of complexity stirring inside me. That word made me think back on all the little moments we had shared, and perhaps, in his eyes, I had truly become an indispensable part of his life.On the other end of the phone, Neil continued, “Yeah, Ryan always makes me feel safe.” His voice was gentle and full of trust, and I couldn’t help but smile. Even Maria, who had been quietly obser
Three days later, on a bright and sunny day, the warm light bathed the earth, as if even the sun was adding a touch of radiance to our wedding. The venue was set up like a dream—white flowers adorned every corner, and the air was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance, as though each petal had been carefully chosen just for us. The guests had all arrived, their faces lit with brilliant smiles, their eyes brimming with blessings and hope. In that moment, all the exhaustion and pain seemed to be forgotten, replaced by nothing but boundless joy and warmth.This day belonged to us three couples, the happiest day of our lives. Neil and I, Peter and Nick, Harry and Nelson—standing together, it felt as if fate had already woven an invisible thread, tying us all together. Each of our faces radiated joy, our eyes filled with love and devotion for one another. Just before the ceremony began, I stole a glance at Neil standing beside me. His eyes sparkled softly, filled with warmth and unwavering d
Ethan continued to describe that miraculous moment: "When Neil's blood entered your body, everything changed dramatically. At first, nothing seemed unusual, but soon, the operating room was filled with dazzling light. Countless beams of light intertwined in the air, and the entire hospital was suddenly powered down, as if a mysterious force had illuminated it. Everyone was startled, and you, it seemed, experienced some kind of extraordinary transformation in that instant." There was a calmness in Ethan’s eyes. "Then, the situation settled. Power was restored, the readings on the instruments returned to normal, and your arm miraculously reconnected, fully healed. The symptoms of blood loss vanished in an instant, as though nothing had ever happened."I murmured, "If this is true, then what the Black Wolf said in the virtual world must also be correct. It claimed the calamity has been averted, the curse is broken." The Black Wolf had told me that these changes signified that the crisis
Everything went black, and I was suddenly jolted back to reality. The chaotic scene of battle unfolded around me—Kim and Peter had been knocked to the ground by the vengeful spirits, and Maria was visibly struggling, her strength fading. I looked around in shock, my heart heavy with realization. All of this suffering, all of this fighting—it was because of the decision I had made. I had refused to let go of Neil, going to any lengths to bring him back to life. But in doing so, I had led us into an endless cycle of calamity, and even Neil had been forced to endure so much pain. Perhaps the root of all this, the key to ending it, lay within myself.Slowly, I rose to my feet, a sense of clarity settling over me as I began to understand the true meaning of goodness. It was selfless letting go—it was the willingness to forsake oneself for the sake of others.I took a deep breath, releasing all my obsessions, letting go of the desire to fight for selfish reasons or love. I would fight now,
Ken Yimo raised his hand high, summoning the fragile thread of magic he could barely muster, and hurled it toward the demon with all the strength he had left. Though his magical abilities were far from impressive, his gaze was resolute, unwavering in the face of death. The demon, however, merely smiled faintly, effortlessly neutralizing Ken's attack. The vast disparity in power sent Ken crashing to the ground, his body feeling as fragile as an ant under the weight of the demon’s overwhelming force.But just as Ken fell, something in Fred's heart shifted. He could no longer bear to watch this crumbling scene unfold. Tears welled in his eyes as he screamed in desperate anguish, his voice cracking with raw emotion, “Ken, no! Don’t sacrifice yourself for me! I’m not worth it!” His words were soaked in sorrow and despair, filled with regret—as if all his anger and jealousy had now melted away into nothing but remorse.Ken Yimo struggled painfully to rise from the ground, blood and bruises
Nick forced himself to put on a defiant expression and coldly said, "Who's afraid?" But I could see a flash of fragile fear in his eyes, and my heart ached even more. Nelson had just recovered, his face pale, his body swaying slightly. Upon hearing Harry's call, he struggled to lift his head, his eyes still filled with trust and dependence on Harry. He parted his lips weakly and whispered, "Harry..." His voice was so faint, it seemed like it could vanish into the air at any moment. Neil, the most sensitive of the three, looked at us with fear in his eyes. But he didn't cry out for help; instead, he anxiously glanced at Nelson, as if silently urging us to take care of the more fragile brother first.Facing the scene before me, a surge of anger filled my chest, and I coldly demanded to know what Fred wanted. Fred stood in the shadows, his gaze as cold as ice. He gave a faint smile, revealing a sickly, cruel satisfaction. "It's simple," he said, his voice low but carrying an undeniable o
Meanwhile, the others had scattered, continuing their search for any trace of Neil, their faces grim with concern. The tension in the air was thick, and every passing second felt like we were hurtling toward something far darker than we had anticipated.As everyone scrambled in panic, Maria suddenly called out, "There's a trace of magic here!" Her voice was tinged with urgency and surprise, clearly indicating that she had discovered something unusual. We hurried over to find her standing at the entrance of Ken Yimo's bedroom, eyes closed in concentration, her hands moving gently through the air as though she were carefully unraveling an invisible barrier. Soon, the tips of her fingers began to glow faintly, as if she had torn through a thin veil. In that instant, the magical barrier dissolved, and everything behind the door came into view, causing me to gasp in shock.Inside the bedroom, Ken Yimo lay on the cold floor, his face ashen, as though he had endured some immense shock. Scatt
"It turns out that Ken's coldness stems from such a painful past," I murmured softly, a deep, indescribable sorrow washing over me. The suffering Ken had endured was far beyond our comprehension. No wonder he kept everyone at arm's length, as if wrapped in a hard shell to shield himself."What's even more tragic is that our 'old-fashioned' people, upon learning about Ken's sexual orientation, grew even more hostile toward him. They have no idea that his sexuality was, for the most part, twisted by that monstrous foster father of his," Maria sighed, her eyes filled with profound sympathy and understanding for Ken. She shook her head, adding, "They ostracized him, yet they have no clue what kind of pain he went through."I couldn't help but ask, "What happened after that? What did Ken go through?"Maria gently shook her head, a shadow of sorrow crossing her face. "He left our place. By the time I found him, that beast of a foster father had gathered thirty or forty people, trying to for
Ken Yimo chuckled gently, the smile on his face tinged with a trace of self-mockery, as if he had already come to terms with his fate. "For me, Neil’s safety is the most important thing. As long as he can get away from here, away from all this conflict, I fear nothing."His words were firm and tender, that kind of selfless, fatherly love stirring something deep within me. I clenched my fists in silent resolve, taking a deep breath. "Alright, Ken. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to take Neil away. I won’t let him come to any harm. I swear, I will protect him with everything I have."A flicker of gratitude passed through Ken Yimo's eyes as he nodded slightly. "I know you will, Ryan. Your care for Neil, your dedication to him—it's something even I deeply admire. He’s a child who deserves love and protection... Please continue to show him kindness, and give him the warmth he truly needs."His words struck a chord deep within me. I had planned to turn and leave, to end this
Ken Yimo nodded slightly, his expression laced with a complex mixture of emotions. “Yes. Fred knows he’s nothing more than a replacement. But he... he’s different. Despite everything, he still desperately seeks my attention. He doesn’t mind being my servant, if it means he can be close to me.”"A child with ambition," I murmured to myself, trying to grasp the psychological dynamics at play in such a twisted situation.A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Ken Yimo's lips. "Do you think Fred acts out so recklessly, causing chaos everywhere, even disregarding the reputation of the Yimo family? What do you think he’s trying to achieve?"I furrowed my brows, pondering for a moment, before the realization dawned on me. "Could it be... that he's doing it just to get your attention? He’s deliberately being reckless, making sure everyone knows."Ken Yimo nodded, his tone unnervingly calm. "Exactly. He knows that by antagonizing people, the Yimo family will inevitably be ostracized. But what