Ethan still brought meals three times a day, but each time he delivered a meal, he would take away the untouched one from before. He had tried to persuade me many times, but I always replied that for someone on the verge of death, eating one more meal or one less didn't make a difference. This morning, however, he was so shocked by my actions that he dropped the entire breakfast on the floor because I had harmed myself.I had been lying in bed, looking at Neil, thinking about his pain and my guilt, repeatedly dwelling on the same thoughts. Suddenly, an idea struck me. If I followed Neil in death, I would only experience dying. My poor Neil endured unimaginable pain alone, pain that no one else knew or understood.I picked up something sharp and started cutting into my own flesh. Wherever Neil had a wound, I made a cut on myself in the same place. I had made about a dozen cuts when Ethan walked in. Seeing what I was doing, he immediately threw the food aside and rushed over to take the
Recently, I told them I was planning to move out. The old man and his wife earnestly tried to persuade me to stay, asking what dissatisfaction I had that they could try to remedy. I mentioned my desire not to live with them, and the next day they had someone expand the castle grounds, erecting a secondary castle behind the main one, to be solely under my jurisdiction. To make a clear distinction, the main castle was renamed Joseph Castle, while the secondary one was christened Ryan Castle, and no one referred to this abode as Lucas Castle anymore. Under my management, no one except Ethan could enter Ryan Castle while I was at home, so Ethan would instruct the servants to clean only when I was away. As for magic shield, the old man suggested maintaining a barrier even though I lived alone, but I agreed superficially while secretly having Ethan cast another spell, allowing the castle's master to be exempt from the barrier. What needed to be known, I would know; what didn't need to be k
Before returning to my castle, Ethan and I roughly confirmed whether my brother's abandonment was related to Neil. Ethan responded that from the private conversation between the old man and the old woman earlier, it could be inferred as one of the reasons. I speculated that another reason might be that Roy was an untamed free spirit, someone whose thoughts could never be accurately predicted. This unpredictability was a major taboo for the old man when choosing an heir. He could accept rebellion, but not someone who played entirely by their own rules. Given this reasoning, what I needed to do most was to strengthen myself to a level surpassing the old man, and then break the rules. This was my strategy for dealing with the Lucas family. Moreover, once the Lucas family was under my feet, the wolf pack wouldn't be an issue. They were like swarms of ants and bees; as long as I was strong enough and provided them with benefits, they wouldn't pose much of a problem, if any at all. My gr
I lay back down on the bed, trying to suppress my anger and fall asleep again. However, my emotions refused to settle and, instead, I found myself growing even more furious because sleep continued to elude me. I made up my mind: I was definitely going to fire the new servant. Once I got myself ready, I planned to find Ethan and personally reprimand the newcomer before dismissing him on the spot. As I passed the second floor, I heard someone repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The voice was coming from Roy's room. Puzzled by the fact that Roy had already left, I wondered who could be in there. I walked over and pushed open the door, which was slightly ajar. As it opened, a small figure came into view. It was Neil. He was bare-chested, kneeling in the corner of the room facing the wall, his hands raised in the air, his head bowed, and continuously muttering "I'm sorry." I quickly rushed toward the small figure. “Neil, what’s wrong? Why are you kneeling here?” “I’m
Neil Wesley loved the sea deeply, for it symbolized freedom to him. I still owed him a special yacht trip, though the chance to set sail with him again was long gone. However, I decided to bring Neil Caster along for a similar experience. After all, they were Neils and they both share the name Neil, and surely, he would enjoy it just as much. Not only did I need to understand him better, but I also aimed to create cherished memories together.Using the excuse of a private trip, I managed to take him away from the castle, providing him with an opportunity to understand the werewolf philosophy firsthand. I didn't disclose our destination; I simply instructed him to get in the car. Throughout the drive, he diligently worked on his assignments and asked me questions, his demeanor reminiscent of Neil Wesley's lectures—serious, scholarly, and charming.It wasn't until we arrived at the marina that I revealed our plan to embark on a yacht. Contrary to my expectations, he stood there, stunned
I really wanted to clarify his first encounter with Roy—did he remember it correctly? Was Roy really fishing? Because my impression of Roy was that he absolutely detests fishing. He had mentioned before that fishing was an incredibly boring activity, and even as a companion, he would never choose to accompany someone on a fishing trip. And was that when Roy and Neil started? During Neil’s school days? When he was a teenager?Just as I was hesitating about whether to ask directly, I noticed something was off. He was hugging the teddy bear, leaning against its shoulder, sometimes staring blankly ahead with a bright smile, sometimes lowering his head, clenching his fists, and wiping his eyes."Neil, are you okay?" Seeing him repeatedly wiping his eyes, lifting his head, and then lowering it again to wipe his eyes, I felt uneasy and asked softly."I'm fine." He kept wiping his eyes."Is it sand in your eyes?" I asked."No, it's just..." He said he was fine, but his hands didn't stop."Jus
I held my phone and walked out to the balcony. Partly, I didn't want Neil to overhear my conversation with Roy, since most of what Roy and I discussed was rather adult in nature. Additionally, I was concerned that Roy might catch on to what Neil and I had been doing."Hello.""Are you with my baby?""Didn't you ask him to come to me?""Help me out, brother. It's just one paper. Just give him some rough guidance, and he'll sort out the rest. Don't be fooled by his naive look; he's quite smart.""Are you really that comfortable letting your baby stay with me?""Of course. Why wouldn't I be? A timid human with an impatient werewolf like you—the worst that could happen is you'd get annoyed and leave him behind."So, Neil was a timid soul in Roy's eyes. I glanced back at Neil, who was lying on the bed. He did seem like someone who needed protection, but I believed he wasn't actually timid. He just lacked a sense of security, something even his fiancé, Roy, had failed to provide.This was s
The sudden yank and pull of the blanket jolted me awake. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw the small figure who had slept in my arms last night, now looking a bit nervous. From his bewildered expression, I could guess that he had blanked out and forgotten the promises he made to me the night before. I knew I could explain everything that had happened, and while I wasn't entirely without fault, I was certainly not to blame. However, my current concern was that this child might be frightened or anxious due to his perceived betrayal of Roy. After all, he wasn't like that scoundrel Roy, and he probably didn't know that Roy had another lover outside."Neil, don't be scared. Can you listen to me first?" Seeing him nod, I pulled him back to the center of the bed, as he was about to fall off. Noticing his lingering wariness, I gave him the blanket and wrapped him up snugly. "I did cross a line last night, and if it bothers you, just tell me, and we can figure something out, okay?" My priorit
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
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
“I’ve had enough.” Finally, my patience wore thin. Soft tactics weren’t working, so it was time to be firm. I stood up, bundled Neil up tightly in his blanket, ignoring his struggles or pleas. Before long, Neil was sitting at the small table, his head poking out from the blanket while the rest of his body was wrapped up snugly—held there by my bear hug, replacing any other form of restraint.I should have done it this way from the start. It saved time, kept the food warm, and, most importantly, even though he was wrapped in a blanket, I could still hold him close, care for him, protect him—letting him sit on my lap and lean against me.“Wow.” Seeing his eager expression, I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud. “I know you love these dishes, so I made them just for you. What do you want to eat?”"My favorite pasta.""My favorite pancakes."
I rambled on while watching the stars twinkle silently in the night sky. The breeze caressed the woods outside the tent, and the night was as gentle as a dream. Unconsciously, fatigue crept into my eyelids, and finally I fell into a deep sleep in the stillness of the night.I didn't know exactly how long I slept until a beam of morning light shone through the transparent tent roof and shone on my face, waking me up from my slumber. In a daze, I blinked, as if last night's worries and hesitations were still swirling in my mind. But the scene that came into my eyes next completely turned all my imaginations upside down.“Neil!!! what are you doing?!” I instantly came to my senses and sat up with a jolt. Right in front of me, Neil was kneeling beside me, head bowed, with a serious look on his face as he tried to help me with my natural morning reaction. He didn't look hesitant at all, as if it was a matter of course.
My heart sank, realizing that it wasn’t just innocent childish behavior—it was a desperate search for affection, a need to please, a struggle to win more care and love from Ken Yimo. In that moment, I suddenly understood that Harry's words might have been true—their relationship was far beyond a typical father-son bond.I struggled to steady the emotions stirring within me, and looked up at Neil’s innocent face. He probably didn’t recognize the true meaning behind those gestures—their intent was not simply familial love, but a deep, almost physical craving for attention, a kind of dependence on being favored. A quiet ache settled in my chest as I wished with all my heart that he would never be caught in that dark emotional whirlpool again.I smiled softly, gently steering the conversation back to where it had started. "So, to get back to the point, I am your one and only, aren't I?" On this quiet night, I
"Yes, every day." Neil nodded firmly, his tone pure, almost childlike."Then, is this kind of missing me something unique?" I pressed on, as though I were hoping to hear a one-of-a-kind answer from him."Unique?" He blinked, looking as though he didn’t quite understand the meaning of the word.I patiently explained, "What I mean is... is this something that only I experience? Like, the way you miss your dad—does it feel the same as the way I miss mine?"Neil shook his head slightly, his voice soft as he replied, "It's different. I miss Ryan more."A flicker of delight stirred within me, but I kept my expression neutral and asked, "What about compared to your elder brother and your little brother? Is it different with them too?"Neil thought for a moment before nodding with certainty. "Yeah, I miss Ryan the most.""So, only I,
As I processed Harry's bombshell, I turned to Ethan and asked, "Have you checked if Fred Yimo is really Ken Yimo's biological son?"Ethan's expression turned serious as he pulled out his phone. "I'll have someone look into it now."Peter furrowed his brow, clearly skeptical. "You suspect Fred Yimo might be adopted too?""I actually hope so," I replied firmly. "It's a lot less messy than the unethical theory.""Ken Yimo really isn't simple," Harry remarked on the phone, sounding almost impressed. "When I was around, Fred was a bit more relaxed. But the moment I left, he turned into a mouse—didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, but a little bit “sticky” though."I let out a cold laugh. "Doesn't that completely clash with the surveillance cameras he set up at home?"Peter nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. Which of these sides is the r
As Peter and I sat off to the side, watching them laugh and chat, a tangle of emotions stirred within us. The scene was heartwarming, yet there was an undeniable sense of loss. Here we were, two grown men, holding our glasses, sitting on the fringes of this cozy gathering, as if the world had forgotten about us.Peter let out a heavy sigh. "Why does it feel like I'm drifting further away from my own precious one?" His gaze lingered on Nick and Neil, a hint of sadness in his eyes.I took a sip of my drink, my voice low. "It feels like everyone else is getting closer to Neil than I am." The words left a sting in my chest, as though something inside me had been pierced.Ethan, overhearing our conversation, smiled softly and leaned in to offer a quiet word of reassurance. "Don’t rush," he said gently. "You’ll grow closer in time." He set down his soup spoon, his demeanor calm and wise. "When the bond is strong, n
I paused, surprised that Ken Yimo had informed Neil so quickly. I had been ready to carefully persuade him to come along, but it turned out I didn’t need to—the door was already open, and Neil knew he’d have some freedom. My plan could move forward seamlessly.I smiled, leaning down with a hint of excitement in my voice. "Neil, how about a trip to the amusement park?" My gaze held a playful glint, eager to see his reaction.As expected, Neil’s face instantly lit up with an incredible smile, like sunshine breaking into the depths of his heart. "Really?" His eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, his voice brimming with barely-contained excitement."Yes!" I nodded, continuing to paint an exciting picture for him. "We can even go see a movie, and then camp out to watch the stars. How does that sound?"Neil’s face flushed with excitement, and he practically burst out, "Y