Neil tilted his head slightly, a look of confusion crossing his face, before gently shaking his head. The motion was slow, as if he were trying to convince himself that he truly couldn’t remember. His eyes were clean and hollow, as if not remembering didn’t strike him as strange at all. A sense of dread washed over me. My instincts told me this wasn’t ordinary amnesia; the boy must have been sleepwalking.
“Have you ever experienced anything like this before?” I asked cautiously. “For instance, have you woken up in an unfamiliar place, or found yourself soaked like just now, or encountered any other strange occurrences?”
Neil pondered for a moment, as if he were trying to recall something, then spoke slowly: “When I was in the Randolph house, I used to sleep on a cardboard box in the storage room, but sometimes I’d wake up on the living room floor. Dad, Mom, and Nelson said I have such a p
I looked down at his peaceful sleeping face, my heart a mix of emotions—both aching and helpless. This kid, at an age when he should be cherished and cared for, had clearly not received the love he deserved. I sighed and ultimately chose not to resist, leaning back against the headboard. If he needed this kind of companionship, then I would provide it for him.Since I couldn't break free from the moment, I reached for my phone with one hand, searching for Ethan's contact information. There were some things I needed to clarify quickly. Neil's sleepwalking situation filled me with unease, and I couldn’t just sit idly by.Shortly after I sent the message, Ethan replied. His tone carried a hint of guilt: “I’m sorry, I didn’t pay much attention to the content after he falls asleep, so I didn’t check closely and missed the fact that Neil was sleepwalking.” His words were laced with a deep sense of remorse.
To my surprise, Neil pouted in protest. “It’s not like I haven’t seen it before!” he objected.“Huh? Seen what?” I was taken aback, not quite following.With a perfectly serious expression, Neil replied, “When Ryan is in little wolfdog form, you don’t wear any clothes.”I paused, startled, then couldn’t help but burst into laughter. This kid was so pure, so completely innocent—he genuinely saw nothing odd about it at all.I put on a mock-offended look, clutching my chest as if deeply wounded. "So… you’ve seen everything then, haven’t you?" I said, feigning a dramatic sense of betrayal.Seeing my exaggerated expression, Neil couldn’t hold back and finally burst out laughing. His smile bloomed like flowers in spring, lighting up the whole room and warming it with his joy.I narrowed my eyes playfully and pointed a finger at him. “Oh, you’re laughing now? You kn
Neil was momentarily taken aback, his throat shifting slightly as he unconsciously swallowed, then honestly replied, “It’s attractive.”His genuine reaction made me chuckle with delight, a hint of triumph in my laughter. “That’s what wild beauty is! Your painting completely missed the mark.”Clearly a bit flustered, Neil spoke softly, “Should I try painting another one? But…” His voice trailed off, suddenly filled with hesitation.“What do you mean, ‘but’?” I raised an eyebrow, leaning in just a little closer.He pressed his lips together, as if summoning immense courage, and spoke with a hint of shyness, “I don’t want Harry and Peter to see it.”I paused for a moment, then it clicked. He didn’t want to paint this picture for others to share; he wanted to keep it for himself. A wave of mixed emotions washed over me—part amusement, part pride, and an indescribable sweetness that f
Lisa quickly chimed in, “We should start with Nick or Nelson. We need an excuse that ties into Neil's situation; with that way, Ken Yimo will lower his guard.”Ethan immediately replied, “Agreed!”I thought for a moment and typed in my own suggestion: “What about using Nelson's health condition as a reason?”Harry sent a thinking emoji: “Nelson’s condition is improving; Ken Yimo is aware of that. If we use that excuse, he probably won’t buy it.”Peter chimed in, “Nick is doing well too. Oh, by the way, I’ve already got him working as my assistant.”Harry quickly latched onto that detail, sending several cheeky emojis: “Assistant? One of those close ones?”Peter, unfazed, replied, “Yep, my personal assistant, and he even lives at my place.” He ad
I thought it over and typed my response: "Then we'll need Nick to put on a bit of a show. He should express some concern about his younger brother staying in the country for treatment, or even say he wants to have a serious talk with Neil about Nelson's situation."Peter replied immediately with a thumbs-up emoji and added, “In that case, Ken Yimo will see Harry’s suggestion as the safest option. I’d say this raises our success rate to over ninety percent.”Lisa sent a laughing emoji, adding, “Looks like with the five of us putting our heads together, Ken Yimo isn’t that formidable after all.”A warm feeling spread through me, and I typed a sincere message to the group: “Then, on behalf of Neil, thank you all.”Peter, never missing a chance to tease, replied, “What’s with the gratitude? I still need to teach my ‘star’ how t
He helped Neil over to a nearby tatami mat, his expression so gentle that it seemed impossible he’d been the same man furiously smashing things just moments earlier. Watching him carefully tend to Neil with such tenderness, I couldn't help but marvel at how masterfully this man could wear different masks. One moment, he was consumed by rage; the next, he’d transformed into the image of a devoted father. No wonder Neil felt uneasy around someone like him—such volatility would be terrifying for anyone.Ken Yimo picked up his phone and answered in a low voice. The moment he murmured, "Ah, Harry," I instantly understood—the next phase of the plan was in motion. Harry had successfully intervened to stop Fred Yimo from causing more trouble at the hospital, and this call was to inform Ken Yimo, urging him to hurry over and manage the aftermath.After hanging up, Ken Yimo returned to Neil's side, gently stroking his hair. In
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
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
At that moment, I noticed two figures standing in the doorway—Harry and Ken Yimo. They seemed to be quietly listening to our conversation. A surge of anger rose within me, and I decided to ask Neil another question, one that I knew would make Ken Yimo hear it more clearly. I leaned in slightly and, in a soft voice, asked, “Do you ever get mad at your dad? Do you ever feel frustrated with him, like he’s making you really tired?”Neil shook his head, smiling as he said, “No, Daddy loves me a lot. I like him too, and a little tiredness isn’t a big deal.” His eyes met mine, sincere and pure, as though there wasn’t an ounce of resentment in him.My heart tightened at his words, and seeing his smile, I felt a pang of sorrow deep inside. I gently laid him back on the bed and softly said, “It’s alright, Neil. Sleep for a little longer. Once you’ve had enough rest, we’ll talk som
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