"It's okay, say what you want to say to him," I whispered to Neil."That's not my home, I'm not going back," Neil gathered his courage to respond."I've told you before, it's better to be with me than staying at that company. Besides, haven't the Lee family deceived you enough?" Peter Black urged."How do you know..." Neil looked surprised, and Harry and I exchanged a glance. It seemed Peter Black knew more than we had anticipated."The way you ask confirms that you know too. It seems your brothers, Harry and Ryan, treat you better than the Lee family," Peter Black continued."Uncle Lee has been good to me.""Has he really? Just giving you a status is being good? It doesn't matter now; you have a new identity."Peter Black pushed a folder towards us on the table. As soon as I opened it, Harry leaned in to take a look. Astonishingly, Peter Black had completely obliterated Neil Lee's identity and had created a new identity for him as Neil Black."Now you're no longer Neil Lee, you're Ne
"Neil, are you alright?""Neil, are you feeling any discomfort?""Could you two please step aside so I can check on Neil?"Since this wasn't our home turf, we all moved aside. Harry immediately pressed the button by the bedside and started examining Neil. Shortly after, the attending physician arrived. After a brief exchange, the physician proceeded to check on Neil. Following the examination and a simple conversation with Neil, the doctor confirmed that Neil hadn't lost his memory. However, whether he had fully recovered his memory was something we, his acquaintances, would need to ascertain through further interaction.In truth, none of us three knew Neil before his memory loss. Even if we had questions, they would be quite limited, unless they pertained to Richard Lee. We had all agreed that we didn't want too many people to know about Neil's past. So, Harry asked the doctor and nurses to leave, and it was just the three of us and Neil left in the room. Harry was the most qualified
Harry was strict. Despite our shameless insistence on staying at his place, he didn't allow us near Neil's room outside of visitation hours. To ensure Neil's absolute rest, Neil didn't leave his room, not even for meals, which were brought to him. While Harry cared for Neil, I was left facing the annoying Peter Black, keeping a close watch on him to prevent any harm to Neil. Annoyingly, he adapted quickly, treating the place as if it were his own home."Neil told me he remembers most things now," Harry said as he sat down to eat the dinner prepared by Peter Black."You asked him?" I was eager to know about Neil's past as well."Yes," Harry began. "Neil said he used to live alone in the mountains. One day, an old Chinese doctor moved there to retire. The doctor liked Neil a lot and took him in as an apprentice. Their life was very peaceful. The old doctor enjoyed his retirement while Neil learned traditional Chinese medicine. When Neil was old enough, the doctor arranged for him to att
"My original name is Peter River. About ten years ago, my family was attacked by a large group of vampires. Few of us survived, just me and some distant relatives. Later, I discovered that these were not rogue vampires but organized family. These family are known as the Cairn Family and the Wayne Family.""Cairn?""Yes, like Harry Cairn. Initially, I suspected him, but I couldn't find much evidence. He doesn't have much connection with vampires; in fact, his closest associate is you. Besides, if he can run a hospital, his likelihood of being involved is low.""Aren't you afraid he might use the hospital to obtain a blood supply?""I looked into it. His hospital—no, I should say your hospital—has an impeccable record. It genuinely adheres to the principles of medical ethics and maintains high-quality care. Otherwise, I wouldn't have allowed Neil to be treated there.""You've investigated quite thoroughly.""Better safe than sorry."Of course, Peter couldn't find anything. Harry was a r
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of my chest. Whether it was Neil Caster, Neil Lee, or Neil Black, it seemed none of the Neils could escape the grasp of Roy. If it hadn't been for the timely arrival of Richard Lee and his men just as Roy was about to rush out and find Neil, Neil might have been caught by Roy. Roy quickly hid the body of the old doctor and even put on the doctor's coat, putting on quite a show at the front door. Sadly, Richard Lee's men encountered the murderous Roy and lost their lives, but their sacrifice has earned my deepest gratitude.I replied to Ethan's message, expressing how it seemed like fate was never on our side. Roy, who had committed countless heinous acts, had once again managed to encounter Neil so easily, plunging Neil back into danger. Why was it that someone like Roy could receive divine protection? Ethan quickly responded, saying that he now hoped the last resurrection ritual could somehow alter the fact that Roy had see
We left Neil's room and, instead of returning to the living room or kitchen, we headed to the backyard. The three of us sat at the outdoor table and chairs under the sunlight. Some smoked, some sipped tea, and some nibbled on snacks. Thanks to Neil, the usual discord between us had dissipated. We even started to notice some commonalities and occasionally teased each other, enjoying the newfound camaraderie."Don't you all have work?" Harry asked, clearly annoyed by our presence."I've already informed my assistant. Missing a day isn't a problem," Peter replied, his assistant being quite capable indeed."I can afford to miss two days," I added, confident in my own assistant's competence too."It seems you don't plan on going back to work as long as Neil is here," Harry said, seeing right through us."You're perceptive," Peter responded."To be honest, I do need both of your help with something," I said, wanting to discuss the matter concerning Roy."Ah, yes, that mysterious thing you m
Waking up, I found myself still in the dungeon, my hands and feet bound by iron chains. The room was empty except for me; Roy was gone. At that moment, a terrifying thought crossed my mind: Could it be that I was set up by Roy and ended up taking his place? But that seemed impossible. Even though we were blood brothers, such a deception couldn't be kept hidden. Wait, what did he say back then...?"You silly child, are you worried about me like that? If my magician can restore my limbs, can't he change my face too? Yours as well."Could it be that he really changed my face? How was that possible? Was I doomed to stay here for the rest of my life? No, if I was here, where would Roy go? Was he planning to use my face to meet Neil? As these questions kept swirling in my mind, the door creaked open.The sudden noise startled me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I squinted against the dim light spilling into the dungeon from the open door. A figure stood there, cloaked and hooded, casting a l
"Master Ryan, are you alright?" Ethan hurriedly helped me out of my predicament."Are you really Ethan?"“Yes, Master Ryan.”“Prove it.”"When you were a child, you mistook my poison for water and drank five bottles. You said it tasted great and asked me to brew more for you," Ethan quickly recounted something only the two of us knew."You really are Ethan.""You've suffered, my Master Ryan.""No, no."Finally freed, I stood up with Ethan's support. I initially wanted to kick that vampire a couple of times, but as soon as I saw him, my rage flared up again. However, a shred of sanity pulled me back because I remembered Neil. Neil was still in danger, and the phone used for the video call earlier showed Roy trying to take advantage of him. I didn't know if he had succeeded by now. What had happened to Neil?"Ethan, Neil... save him quickly!" I stammered anxiously."Master Ryan, are you referring to what Roy is doing to Neil?""Yes, quickly notify Harry to save Neil. No, wait, they were
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