"Do you think that if you continue living this way, burdened by guilt and sorrow, the next Neil would be happy? Would he be content?" Ethan's question made me pause and reflect. I realized that if I persisted in this state of endless self-reproach, my negative emotions could affect any future chance at renewal or happiness.I fell silent, unable to answer Ethan's question. The pain and tangled emotions in my heart intertwined, leaving me without a path to choose."I am someone just like you, who has spent time with three different Neils. I remember each of his innocent smiles, every sincere glance, and the kindness in his heart. I believe he wouldn’t want to be with someone who appears to treat him well on the surface but is filled with guilt inside. He deserves a partner who loves him wholeheartedly, one hundred percent, without any trace of negative emotions. Don’t you want to give the next, and the last, Neil the happiest and most joyful life?" Ethan's words were filled with deep e
Then Peter suddenly became serious, with a touch of playful mystery, and began sharing an interesting story from recent events. "You know," he said, "I recently had something quite amusing happen. A kid, probably around twenty, suddenly appeared in front of me, trying to assassinate me." His tone was light, as if he were recounting a joke.Harry was taken aback for a moment, then asked with curiosity, “And then? Did you just let him go? Is that even possible?”I shook my head with a smile and said, “Not a chance. Our Peter Black isn’t exactly a philanthropist.”Peter rolled his eyes and retorted, “I’m not a philanthropist, but I’m not the kind of person you’re imagining either, okay?” His expression was serious, though his tone carried a hint of resignation.I continued to play dumb, “What are we talking about?”Harry chimed in with a tease, “Yeah, someone must be feeling guilty and letting their imagination run wild.”Peter looked at us with exasperation, “You two can stop pretending
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
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