How could this happen? Was it possible that, just like last time, Peter had encountered my Neil even earlier? And had they, in fact, been intimate? A wave of indescribable anger and jealousy surged within me, a storm of emotions that seemed ready to tear me apart. I stared at the photo, my gaze fixed and intense, as if I could will Neil awake from his sleep to confront him and demand to know what had transpired.Desperately, I zoomed in on the photo, trying to scrutinize every detail, hoping to find evidence that this sleeping figure was not my Neil. I wanted to convince myself that I had made a mistake, that the face I recognized and the heartache it brought were illusions. But no matter how I tried to deny it, the familiar features and that heartbreaking familiarity were undeniable, leaving me in a state of raw anguish.Harry’s message interrupted my thoughts: “Peter, you’ve got good taste this time.” His tone was laced with mockery, like a sharp blade piercing my chest. I instincti
After spending several hours, I finally finished reviewing all the information Ethan had sent me. The background, experiences, behavior, and family details of the twins, Nicholas and Nelson, were laid out in front of me in meticulous detail. Ethan's analysis made perfect sense—there was nothing in their story that remotely resembled Neil's, not even their demeanor. Nicholas came across as overly composed and ruthless, while Nelson, though younger, was alarmingly volatile and combative. This starkly contrasted with Neil’s innocence and kindness. As I pondered these differences, a slight sense of relief washed over me, but deep down, my lingering doubts remained unresolved.In order to gather more information, I decided to have my assistant, Rizo, look into the Yimo family. After all, this situation involved the business realm, and Rizo's expertise in that area made him a far better fit than Ethan. Besides, Rizo was on my payroll, so I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit guilty about reachi
I held my breath, my gaze locked onto the boy. Just as Peter had described, he appeared somewhat fragile, his slender frame swallowed by oversized clothing that hinted at a delicate nature. But that face—oh my god, it was strikingly identical to Neil’s! The familiarity hit me like a bolt, flooding my mind with memories. The only difference lay in his eyes. Unlike Neil’s gentle and innocent gaze, this boy’s eyes radiated a fierce determination and defiance. Even under Peter’s control, there was no hint of submission in his look. That gaze told me that unless he had been subdued by some means, he wouldn’t easily reveal any secrets to us.A tense atmosphere hung in the air, my palms growing slightly sweaty as my heart raced. Harry noticed my reaction and quietly moved closer, whispering in my ear, “Is he really looked like that?” His tone carried a hint of disbelief, as if he, too, was struggling to comprehend the startling resemblance between the boy before us and Neil.I nodded softly,
I clenched my fists, my heart swirling with complex emotions. The identity of that boy was becoming increasingly clear; I was nearly certain he was the person I had been searching for. Yet even so, his pain and experiences weighed heavily on me, filling me with guilt and sorrow. The suffering he endured was far beyond anything I could have imagined.I looked at Nick and asked, “Do you have any idea who might have paid off your debts? Was it the Yimo family? If so, why would they help you?” My tone was tinged with urgency, eager to uncover any leads on the whereabouts of that boy.Nick frowned slightly, lowering his head as if lost in thought. “I didn’t know it was the Yimo family at first,” he said, his voice laced with weariness and resignation. “But later I heard that the boy was sold, and the money went to pay off our debts. Peter helped me investigate, and that’s when I found out it was the Yimo family.”“Sold?” Peter's voice suddenly rose, filled with shock and anger, disbelief e
Harry couldn't help but be surprised. “That fast? It hasn’t even been fifteen minutes!”Peter shrugged, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Just efficient.”Harry raised an eyebrow, a teasing tone creeping into his voice. “Is that true in other areas too?”Peter immediately jumped in, glancing over at Nick with a mischievous smile. “Well, you’ll have to ask him to find out just how fast I really am.” His words dripped with innuendo, clearly teasing Nick.At that, Nick’s previously resolute gaze faltered, his defenses crumbling in an instant as his face flushed bright red. He widened his eyes at Peter, a mix of embarrassment and anger flashing across his features. “You guys are shameless!” he exclaimed.Seeing Nick's flushed face, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. I quickly reassured him, “It’s okay; I’ll help you teach them a lesson.” With that, I grabbed a pillow from the sofa and hurled it toward Peter with all my might. Peter reacted quickly, dodging my “attack” with ea
At that moment, a soft knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. To my surprise, the visitor was Ethan, and I felt a mix of shock and unease. As I opened the door, the man before me was no longer the precocious figure I remembered. Time had etched deep lines on his face, and the cost of the resurrection ritual had transformed him into a frail, elderly man of seventy. In that instant, my heart ached for him, filled with a profound sense of regret.Ethan gave a faint smile, as if he could read my feelings. “I knew you wouldn’t be asleep yet, so I came over without asking,” he said, his voice hoarse but still carrying that characteristic calmness. Though time had stripped him of his youthful appearance, his keen insight into others remained unchanged.“It's fine; you guessed correctly,” I replied, forcing a smile to suppress my unease. “I was just reviewing some documents and brainstorming our next steps.”“Why don’t you let me lend you hand?” Ethan suggested casually. But I knew that h
We had come this far, successfully getting close to Ken Yimo, and the goal was within reach. Yet the true challenge was only just beginning. Ken Yimo was a man of complexity and mystery. His artist-like aura, combined with a calm, composed demeanor, exuded both danger and irresistible charm. He wielded control over information and power, and any reckless move on our part could expose us. Therefore, the plan to find the kid must be meticulously crafted, with no room for error.This time, in addition to Ethan, our seasoned strategist, Harry brought in a new ally—Lisa. Sharp-minded and perceptive, she was the perfect fit to serve as our "second strategist." Her contributions in the group chat had proven to be indispensable. At this moment, the five of us were working in close coordination, each playing a crucial role like interconnected gears, seamlessly driving the plan forward. Every minute, new messages popped up on the screen, and under this intense atmosphere, the group chat had bec
“Alright, come on, hurry up.” As expected, Peter’s response was filled with urgency, making me chuckle. I stared at his message, smiling as I pictured him furrowing his brow, anxiously waiting. This mix of emotions and tension was a constant reminder of the stakes at hand, urging us to tread carefully with every step we took.I composed myself, suppressing the smile, and got back to the matter at hand. “So, how do we ensure that Ken Yimo and Derrick Kwok won’t pose any trouble for Nick?” This was the biggest challenge we faced at the moment. Nick was crucial to us, but his current situation was extremely precarious; any wrong decision could plunge him into the abyss.Harry appeared especially calm at that moment, always able to offer sound advice when it mattered most. “We need to get Derrick Kwok on our side; if that’s not possible, he must at least act as a neutral intermediary. We cannot afford for him to be against us.” His words struck a chord with me. Derrick Kwok’s stance was u
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
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