Lisa found evidence similar to what was around Roy's mansion. After dispelling the magic, she discovered another car. Without delay, Lisa contacted our mutual friend Ethan. By the time Harry and I emerged, Ethan had already traced the car—it belonged to Mike.Lisa and Ethan each contacted their magician friends to remove all the involved spells. Eventually, the car reappeared on various CCTV cameras across the roads. Ethan sent over some surveillance footage showing Neil being taken away by Mike. Neil was seen unconscious in the back seat, lying alone in a deep sleep.Armed with Ethan's information, we made our way back to Neil's hometown. By the time we arrived, it was nearly morning. I was running out of patience. Without further ado, we stormed into Mike's house, not considering the legal consequences of trespassing."Where's Neil?""He's not here with me," Mike shrugged indifferently, seeming to anticipate our visit."Let's search the place," Harry suggested."You can search till
Neil's fever had subsided, but he remained unconscious. The doctor suggested it could be exhaustion or that his subconscious perceived sleep as a refuge. It was a psychological state; if he felt in danger, the latter could indeed happen. I couldn't imagine how distressed and frightened Neil must have been. From being bullied by Roy, to Mike's ordeal, and finally falling into the hands of students at the same university, he had been continuously tormented. Neil was truly pitiable.I didn't want to delay any longer. I didn't want Neil to feel unsafe even in his sleep. I wanted to bring him back to Ryan Castle immediately because there, I could also utilize my abilities to enhance his protection. In these unfamiliar surroundings, my capabilities were limited. I consulted with Harry's doctor about potential issues during the journey and emergency measures. Additionally, I had Ethan to arranged for our family doctor to be on standby at Ryan Castle. I wanted to ensure Neil's condition only
I sat at my desk and started flipping through the folders while Ethan began his briefing. This particular meeting felt different; I was in such a good mood that I felt like I could fly, and Ethan, sitting across from me, seemed to share the sentiment. But I didn't let on."The first thing, the guy who helped Master R…""Ethan, I don’t mind you calling him whatever you want.""That punk?""Too polite," I shook my head, dismissing the mildness of the term."That little bastard?""Is there a difference?" I rejected the idea again."Actually, I have a more uncouth thought, but it’s a bit…""Say it.""Asshole.""Go on," I tapped the desk, giving Ethan my approval."The magician who helped that asshole is same like the one who framed Mr. Neil Wesley last time. They're both from the same rogue organization that usually serves the underworld or asshole like him.""Birds of a feather flock together.""Exactly. That day, Lisa tracked him down. She initially just wanted to give him a scare, but
"Please stop shouting. You're severely disturbing the peace of the castle.""Ethan, you're quite something now. Not calling me 'Master Roy' anymore, huh? Seems like you've chosen your side.""I'm merely prioritizing the safety of the castle. Anyone who threatens it must be dealt with first. So, please, calm down and leave immediately.""Calm down? My fiancé was abducted, and he's right here in this Ryan Castle. And you, one of the accomplices, still dare to act smug!""The matter between you and Mr. Neil has escalated beyond a personal issue and now concerns his safety. Even if I am an accomplice, it's to protect Mr. Neil, not to abduct him as you claim. If there's any abduction, it's actions like yours with Mike that have put Mr. Neil in danger.""I had no idea Mike would do that, and he's already been punished accordingly. I punished him for Neil. If you don't believe me, I can bring him here.""There's no need.""I'm serious. He exposed Neil's video, so I exposed his within his ent
When I proposed swapping Roy and Rose's business management roles to the old man, my only thought was about Rose's ambition to dominate the Werewolf Women's Association. I was certain she would do her utmost to improve both the orphanage and the private school. I never imagined this exchange would bring about such a change in character. It seemed this decision was even better than I had anticipated, and hopefully, it would lessen the suffering endured by the children. If Neil found out, he should be very pleased.I ascended to the second floor and encountered the servant who led the way. As before, our meeting was not in the study but in the indoor garden. The old man sat in the same spot awaiting my arrival, pouring tea when he saw me, reminiscent of our previous encounters."Let's get straight to the point," I said as I sat down, not wanting to waste any time."Sure, explain the recent situation," he replied."Going through it step by step would be too time-consuming. Just tell me w
One turn, another turn, and then a third—we've lost our pursuers. Now, Ethan's most pressing task was to floor the accelerator and get us to that remote location as quickly as possible. We had been driving for such a long time that I feel a bit dizzy. I even suspect my constitution has weakened; I never used to get car sick.I glanced back at Harry, who was leaning against the window, struggling with nausea. Even Neil, who had been sleeping on my lap, woke up and complained of an upset stomach. Harry and I were too proud to admit our discomfort, but as soon as Neil voiced his unease, he immediately drew the attention of both Ethan and Lisa."Here, take this," Lisa said, handing us something that looked like pills. We swallowed them without asking any questions, and miraculously, the discomfort vanished instantly. "I didn't expect it to start this soon," Lisa remarked to Ethan."I suppose it's because many unruly magicians have been pestering her over the years," Ethan replied."Perhap
"Ryan, this bug tastes really good!" Despite not quite understanding Neil's taste for bugs, I indulgently ruffled his hair."In that case, how about these..." Harry took the opportunity to push more bugs towards Neil."Try this one, it's quite nutritious." Maria's expression was somewhat complex, unsure if she was testing Neil's tolerance for bugs or genuinely trying to introduce him to beneficial food. Neil didn't hesitate and picked up a piece to taste."This one is delicious too!""How long did it take you guys to get used to this?" Harry teased Lisa and Ethan playfully, prompting Lisa to immediately give him a thigh-pinch attack."Are they really that tasty?" I wiped Neil's mouth, still somewhat skeptical of his assessment."Mm." Neil nodded, continuing to eat the bugs."Weren't you scared just now?""Scared of live bugs, not these. They're really good!""So as long as it's turned into food, you won't be scared of even the scariest things? Should I turn Roy into food then?""Hey, d
"Neil, is that you? I can hear your voice,"Roy's words were enough to make Neil tense up again. To facilitate communication between us without Roy hearing, Maria conjured an invisible writing board using magic. When Neil, Harry, and I needed to converse, we had to resort to writing by hand. However, for them, with just a wave of hand, the words appeared in full view, creating a rather impressive scene."What do you want?" After unanimous agreement, we let the phone's owner speak."I don't want to talk to you, let Neil talk to me!""You call my phone, and I have to listen to you?""I know Neil must be listening, let Neil come!""I won't, what are you going to do about it?""Fine, then I'll say it straight: Neil, don't trust Ryan. He's not a good person, he's been doing a lot of bad things behind your back. Do you remember the orphanage director from when you were a child?" As soon as my name was mentioned, everyone looked at me. Neil's tightened grip showed he remembered. "Ryan collud
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