Maria hastened the process for us and had the potion ready by the early morning of the third day. She packed the bottle and handed it to me. Unable to contain my curiosity, I took it out for a closer look. It was a bottle of deep blue liquid, exuding an aura of formidable power even to the naked eye. I took a sniff and immediately regretted it; the stench was unbearable, far worse than the smell of decay. A potion like this, I thought, might just be lethal if consumed.Maria knew that my heart had already returned to Harry’s home, so she didn’t keep Ethan and me for long. She only asked that we finish breakfast before setting off. Words couldn't express the depth of my gratitude toward her. Just before we left, while Ethan wasn’t paying attention, I whispered a thank you and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She responded with a gentle smile, one that reminded me of my mother. And Maria had her first request to me, which was to watch over Ethan and Lisa.Perhaps it was my impatience
Yolanda was Roy's accomplice. If she was showing up, it meant she might be here to rescue him. Could it be that the miracle we deemed unlikely was actually happening? A sense of foreboding gripped me. I left the bar and hurried back to their side, urging Harry to act swiftly. If we waited until Yolanda arrived in person, it would be too late. Peter's warnings about the consequences would become a harsh reality."Harry, hurry up, do it now!"Seeing Ethan's anger and my anxiety, Harry realized that the situation demanded his utmost attention. He dropped the broken blade and grabbed Roy by the throat, ready to snap his neck. However, before he could exert any force, an invisible power flung Harry away. He was thrown several meters, crashing into a wall. This Yolanda not only shattered Ethan's protective shield but also effortlessly tossed aside a powerful vampire like Harry. I couldn't fathom the true extent of her strength.Ethan also attempted to cast a spell on Roy. He uttered the inc
Neil followed Lisa as she walked ahead, his posture unchanged, with only his head peeking out. Yet, his gaze remained as clear and pure as ever, brimming with simplicity and innocence."Is it really Ryan?" This question elicited laughter from everyone present."Do you think he's Ryan?" Harry teased the child."I think... he looks a bit like him," the child said, squinting his eyes adorably as he spoke."Which part?" Lisa pulled Neil out from behind."The feeling he gives off..." It was a vague explanation, one that seemed unlikely to yield a clearer answer. "And his eyes and actions.""His eyes?" Peter tilted his head to the side, giving me a mock scrutinizing look as if to study my gaze."Yes, this Ryan's eyes are very gentle, whereas the other Ryan's eyes...""How?" I asked."They give me goosebumps.""See? Neil felt it too. I told you that fake Ryan gave people the creeps, even though I never saw his eyes," Harry eagerly tried to validate his point."Don't make things up. Your feel
Upon hearing those words, none of us could fathom that they came from Peter. Even Neil put down his spoon and turned to look at Peter. The room fell into a hushed silence, everyone waiting for Peter to voice his reluctant request."My family has a patient suffering from severe headaches. Not only does he refuse to go to the hospital, but he also won't let any visiting doctors treat him. He's incredibly stubborn.""You want Neil to treat him?" I asked."Yes, but I think Lisa should go with him. It's not that I don't trust Lisa, but there's a good chance she won't be able to handle his bad temper.""It's not about trust," Lisa said, unbothered and perceptive. "I don't like dealing with stubborn people either. You want Neil to give it a try, don't you?""Yes," Peter admitted."What do you think?" I looked at Neil."I think I can, but...""Neil, I can vouch with my name that he won't harm you. He prefers women," Peter hurried to clarify, fearing Neil might misunderstand, and that we might
"It's hard to say. How about this: I'll wait for you. When the time comes and you find yourself wanting to see me when I'm not around, when being together makes you never want to part from me, you tell me. Then I'll confess my feelings again and ask if I can be your boyfriend. How does that sound?""Sounds good."He lowered his head, trying to hide his blush, but I noticed. I let go of his hand and gently ruffled his hair. He seemed accustomed to it, turning to smile at me. Once I was satisfied, I continued driving. Compared to Ethan and Harry’s journey, it felt like we were far behind."Ryan, thank you," Neil said, gripping his seatbelt with both hands but turning his body towards me."For what?""I used to think that in the city, everyone was really assertive. I thought someone like me just had to follow their lead and do what they told me. If I couldn't, I'd have to sneak away. But you, Ryan, you were the first person to ask me if things were okay, to ask for my opinion. It made me
"Then come find me after you finish eating.""Aren't you going to eat with us?" I thought we had the upper hand and could curb his arrogance a bit."Who wants to eat with you?""Don't you want to eat with us?" Neil looked disappointed. He glanced at Kim, then at me, and lowered his head."I...""I know, it's because of me, right? I'm not a big shot. Even Ryan, Peter, and Harry feel dragged down when they're with me.""That's not true." I grabbed his face and lifted his head."Neil, don't say that. We're not like some people who love to act all high and mighty," Harry said."Neil, it's okay. We'll go eat on our own," Peter comforted."Yeah, if he doesn't want to eat, then don't mind him," Lisa added, rolling her eyes."You young people, can you let someone speak?" Kim scolded everyone, then focused on Neil. "And you, you say you talk slowly, but am I slower? I haven't had a chance to speak.""What do you want to say? Aren't you the one who doesn't want to eat with us?" We all knew Neil
"Neil, you sure have a unique way of speaking," Harry said as he finally let go of my collar and helped smooth out my wrinkled shirt."So, Neil and I will share a room?""What about me?" Harry asked."Well, that's not my problem..." I said, satisfied with my small victory and not caring much about Harry's predicament."You can sleep with Ryan and me!" Neil's enthusiasm took me by surprise."That's a great idea!" Harry immediately agreed."No way, how can so many people share a room with Neil?" Peter objected."If you want, you can join us too..." Harry was just showing off his opportunity, though he had no real intentions."Sure, the four of us together? Is that okay, Neil?""What?" Harry was taken aback."Yeah, that's fine!" Neil's agreement was even more surprising."You guys have such a complicated relationship," observed Kim, the onlooker."One elder brother, two suitors, and one innocent little confused soul," Lisa whispered in Ethan's ear."Alright, it's settled then. We'll use
I released his lips, but my own continued to wander across his face. I returned to his ear, inhaling the fragrance of his hair before gently enveloping his earlobe with my mouth. His instinctive flinch was the best proof of his sensitivity. I discovered his sensitive spot—those beautiful, soft ears. With a mischievous intent, I attacked his earlobe once more. This time, I grazed it with my white teeth, sucked on it, and then gently bit down. He trembled slightly under my teasing."Ticklish?""Mmm...""How ticklish?""Very, very ticklish.""How ticklish exactly?"I thought I had the upper hand, but then he tickled my waist, causing me to straighten up in surprise. Standing between his legs, I held onto his waist with both hands, looking at him in disbelief. Sensing my sudden stillness, he raised his hand to feel in front of him, touching my chest which was right in front of him at a ninety-degree angle. Realizing that I might have been disrupted by the tickling, he seemed to understand
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