Nina couldn’t resist teasing, "Once you’re married, you two should have kids soon. And when they’re born, you better let me spoil them!"Micah replied with a quick retort, "You’re not even in the Yaren Tribe anymore. Even Dad followed you to Birkham. How about you come back here? I’ll hire you for a high salary."He wasn’t just joking. Distance really was an issue. Though Nina had chosen to stay in Birkham, Micah secretly hoped she would stay in the Yaren Tribe. As her brother, he wanted to make up for lost time and ensure she was part of their lives.Nina understood the sincerity behind his words, but Nash, her adoptive parents and everything she had were in Birkham. She had no interest in managing the Yaren Tribe too.Smiling, she responded, "When Freya, my sister-in-law, has kids, I’ll come back to help take care of them."Though Micah had power and could easily hire someone to help after the baby was born, nothing beats having family close by.Freya’s eyes welled up with tear
Pharaoh's expression remained as stern as before. Nina hadn’t expected to hear such devastating news. How could she possibly offer comfort, or what could she say? This just wasn’t the right time.Micah hadn’t anticipated this outcome either. He had been reassuring Arin all along, but now there was nothing that could be done to save her. Micah felt a deep sense of guilt as he walked over to her bedside."I’m sorry. You risked your life to deliver critical information to me, and I couldn’t save you," he said, his voice heavy with remorse.Arin, lying on the bed and ravaged by the poison in her body, still managed to force a smile when she saw Micah approach."It’s nothing special. Even if I hadn’t told you, you would have found out eventually," she said. She did not want him to feel burdened by guilt. Everything she did was of her own free will.Micah’s heart felt as though it was being squeezed by an invisible hand. Arin was in this condition because of him. If there was nothing
"Freya, don't put too much pressure on yourself. I know you're going through a lot," Nina gently advised Freya.Freya quickly shook off her doubts, and the preparations for their wedding continued. Meanwhile, Micah used the distraction of the wedding festivities to lay a trap for those who had poisoned Arin.Micah was willing to show them mercy, but he had one condition. "If you want me to let you go, you must hand over the antidote for the poison you used."The wedding was grand and joyful, just as planned, and Micah's feigned happiness lured his enemies into a false sense of security. They became careless, thinking they had won. But when they finally made their move, Micah was ready, capturing them all.One of them sneered, "It’s been such a long time, and you have the most skilled poison expert, Pharaoh, by your side. Tell me, do you think there’s an antidote for that poison?"If the antidote existed, Pharaoh would have already saved Arin. Now, with only a few days left to live
This was Micah's most sincere yet helpless wish.He had hoped that his father would have a way to cure Arin's poisoning, but to his dismay, there was nothing his father could do. In the end, all he could do was watch as Arin faced death. Micah stayed by her side the entire night and eventually buried her himself.Freya didn't seek him out as she understood the pain he was in and was willing to wait. Life was full of regrets, after all. She embraced him without saying a word, knowing that silence spoke louder than words in this moment."Take a shower, get some rest. There are things we can't change, but we, the ones still living, need to keep moving forward. The Yaren Tribe needs us."She vowed to be the supportive partner Micah needed, to help him lead the Yaren Tribe to a better future.Micah parted his lips, wanting to speak, but he couldn’t find the right words. His throat felt tight, as though something was lodged in it, and his heart weighed heavy, like a giant stone pressing
Sean let out a furious scream. The pain in his chest was unbearable. The slave camps had thousands of people, and in the end, nothing came of it? And with all the Yaren Tribe’s medicinal resources, how could they fail to save his sister?In the end, wasn’t it just because they were afraid his sister’s feelings for Micah would interfere with him? Ashan clutched his chest, the pain unbearable. "You saved so many lives, ran countless experiments. Why wouldn’t you save my sister?"Fearing that Ashan, overwhelmed by grief, might do something rash, Micah stepped in front of the Pharaoh, his resolve unshaken. "I tried everything I could, but I couldn’t save her. That’s on me. If you want revenge, I’m willing to pay with my life."Micah’s gaze was steady and unwavering."No! You’re the leader of the Yaren Tribe now. If a life has to be taken, then take mine instead!" Freya exclaimed, rushing to shield Micah with her arms spread wide.She couldn’t bear to see him die, not after they ha
Sean remained stubborn, almost shouting, "I feel like it’s all because of my sister’s lower status that you didn’t want to save her!""I’m sorry. I was too obsessed before, trying to revive the dead, chasing some unattainable goal. In the end, I realized it was all just an illusion." Pharaoh sighed. "I know you're heartbroken over your sister’s death, but the Yaren Tribe must continue to move forward. I’m willing to let Micah hand those responsible over to you, and we’ll compensate you for the loss. Everything I said earlier still stands." He pressed his lips together and started walking toward Sean.Pharaoh had already steeled himself for whatever Sean might demand, whether it be a beating or even a life for a life. If that was the price, Pharaoh was ready to be the one to pay it. He wouldn’t resist, and he would make sure that Micah and Nina didn’t retaliate against Sean.Even though Pharaoh hadn’t said these words aloud, Nina and Micah understood him perfectly."Sean! We’re no
Sean had one thought in his mind which was to protect the Yaren Tribe and Micah. After all, both Micah and the tribe were what his sister had given her life to protect.On the day Sean left, Nina came to see him off. Sean didn’t want money, status, or any material things. The only thing Nina could give him was a protective charm she had personally blessed."Sean, life on the border will be tough. Please take good care of yourself. Even though your sister is gone, we will always be your family, and you’re welcome to come back anytime," Nina said with a gentle smile.Sean smiled back, but deep down, he knew that without his sister, the Yaren Tribe no longer felt like home. Even though Nina offered him such kindness, he understood that Nina and Micah had their own lives. He wasn’t a child anymore, and he was aware of that.With Sean gone, the chapter of Arin’s story closed as well. Nina, worried about Micah’s mental state, stayed in the Yaren Tribe for a while. Outwardly, Micah appe
Micah clutched his head in agony, releasing a pained scream. Seeing him like this was gut-wrenching for Nina, but even more so for Freya, who had been by his side every day.Nina stepped forward, gently placing a hand on his shoulder, her voice soft and soothing."Micah, this isn't your fault. Please don't push yourself like this—""It is my fault! If it weren't for me, she wouldn't have made that sacrifice. I've seen death so many times, but I've never felt like this before. Nina, you don't understand! I watched her die right in front of me..."Micah's voice was hoarse, cutting through Nina's words, each word carrying the weight of his torment. Nina had never seen him so broken, and it left her feeling helpless.Afraid he might lose control, she quickly called their father. Before long, Pharaoh arrived with a team from the lab. Seeing Micah in this state, Pharaoh felt an overwhelming sadness. This was his son, after all.But when Pharaoh examined Micah, he discovered that Micah
Her eyes turned redder, tears stubbornly welling up as if refusing to fall. Karina, watching the girl’s pained struggle, felt a pang of sympathy. She was about to say something to console her when Wilfred gently pulled her behind him, shielding her once more.His gaze remained cold, but his tone carried an unmistakable impatience. “That’s enough. This ends here. Don’t come bothering us again.”The girl froze as if struck by his blunt and merciless words. Her body trembled, and at last, the tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks and hitting the ground in heavy drops. She opened her mouth, managing to squeeze out a broken, choked whisper: “I… I just…” But the rest of her words were swallowed by the overwhelming tide of her emotions, dissolving into silence.Wilfred frowned slightly but didn’t respond further. He simply took Karina’s hand and turned to leave. Just as they were about to walk away, the girl suddenly shouted hysterically, “Wilfred, I’ve liked you for so long! E
Karina sensed the girl’s unfriendly gaze and instinctively moved closer to Wilfred. Without a word, Wilfred casually placed a hand on her shoulder, a subtle but protective gesture. The girl’s jealousy flared even stronger at the sight. Forcing a strained smile, she turned to Karina and asked, “And who might this be?”Wilfred answered before Karina could speak. “This is Karina, my… friend.” As he spoke, he glanced at Karina, a trace of warmth flickering in his gaze, unnoticed by anyone but her. The girl let out a faint scoff. “A friend, huh? Dr. Wilfred, you’re always so busy with work. It’s rare for you to take time off, yet you didn’t think to invite me? I thought we were close. After all, you took such good care of me when I was your patient.”Her voice was laced with grievance and subtle reproach. Wilfred frowned slightly. His tone remained polite but distant. “It’s good that you’ve recovered. Taking time off is just for relaxation. I didn’t give it much thought.”Though
“Be careful,” Wilfred whispered, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. Karina leaned into his embrace and said softly, “Thank you. I was too careless.”They proceeded cautiously down the corridor and arrived at a room filled with ancient books and peculiar instruments. Curious, Karina picked up a dusty old book. As soon as she opened it, the faint sound of gears turning echoed in the room. Slowly, a stone table emerged from the center of the floor, revealing a complex puzzle box resting on top.Karina studied the puzzle box carefully, noticing that each piece was engraved with unique symbols and patterns. She tried fitting a few pieces together but couldn’t make sense of it. Meanwhile, Wilfred searched the room for other clues and discovered an ancient mural in one corner. The mural depicted several figures gathered around a similar-looking box, seemingly performing some kind of ritual. He examined the gestures and expressions of the figures in the mural and suddenly
Wilfred snapped out of his thoughts, meeting Karina’s eager gaze. Without hesitation, he nodded. “Sure, as long as it’s something you’ll enjoy.”The two of them arrived at an escape room venue, where the receptionist greeted them warmly.Karina asked curiously, “Hi, we’d like to play an escape room. What themes do you have?”The receptionist smiled and began explaining, “We have a horror-themed ‘Midnight Fright,’ an adventure-themed ‘Lost Tomb,’ and a mystery-themed ‘Misty Manor.’ Each has its own level of difficulty and style.”Wilfred looked at Karina. She thought for a moment before saying, “Let’s try ‘Lost Tomb.’ It sounds mysterious and fun.”The receptionist nodded. “This theme is very popular, but it’s also quite challenging. Are you sure?”Wilfred replied confidently, “No problem. We’ll go with this one.”“All right,” the receptionist continued. “The ticket price for this theme is $30 per person. If you complete it within the time limit, you’ll even get a special gift fr
Leonard, a cheerful and outgoing young man, worked skillfully at the machine while apologizing profusely. “Sorry about this. I don’t know what’s up with this machine today. It’s being a bit temperamental. I hope it’s not causing too much trouble for you.”Karina smiled back warmly. “It’s no problem at all.”As Leonard glanced up at Karina and Wilfred, he couldn’t help but comment, “You two look great together! Are you on a date?”Karina’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she opened her mouth to clarify, but Wilfred cut in first. “Thank you. It’s a rare day off, so I thought I’d take her out to relax.”Startled, Karina glanced at him in surprise, but the unexpected sweetness of his words brought a quiet warmth to her heart.Leonard grinned knowingly. “This movie’s been super popular lately. Lots of couples have been coming to watch it. You’re lucky to have snagged tickets—later in the day, it’s almost impossible to get seats.”Wilfred nodded politely. “Is that so? Then I suppose we’re
Karina couldn’t reconcile the composed, confident, and highly skilled Wilfred she knew with the idea of him as a slave. Her lips trembled as though she wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come. Wilfred noticed the shock in her expression and let out a faint, bitter smile before continuing. “In that dark, endless hell, I was subjected to all kinds of drug experiments every day. My body and mind were pushed to the brink, treated as nothing more than a tool. My life and death were entirely in their hands.” A sharp pang shot through Karina’s chest as she listened. She couldn’t begin to imagine the suffering Wilfred had endured. “How did you escape?” she managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. Wilfred’s gaze grew distant, his eyes clouded with memories. “There was a rare moment of carelessness during a transfer. I seized the opportunity with everything I had left and escaped. After that, I hid my identity, pouring all my effort into studying medici
Instead of heading out to eat, Wilfred decided to head home. It was the weekend, and with Mrs. Santos off-duty, they could cook for themselves. The fridge had just enough ingredients left for a proper meal. Karina pulled out an unopened carton of cream and called toward the living room, “Do you like cream of mushroom soup?” A response came from Wilfred, and with his approval, she got to work preparing the ingredients. The dishes she planned weren’t particularly complicated, so in no time, the table was filled with food. After all the bustling in the kitchen, Karina almost forgot the reason she had come in the first place. But seeing Wilfred pick up his utensils brought her back to her thoughts. “I wanted to ask you about your sleepwalking last night. Mrs. Santos said it happens often,” she said, her tone filled with concern. Karina had known Wilfred for quite a while now, and their relationship was fairly close. Yet she had never heard about his sleepwalking, not from hi
Yvette’s expression lit up with the thrill of gossip. “Who are we talking about? Is it Dr. Wilfred?” “It’s about a friend,” Karina lied smoothly, her face betraying nothing. Yvette’s face immediately screamed, “Yeah, right.”“Come on, at least come up with a better excuse. That ‘it’s for a friend’ line is so overused it’s practically expired,” she teased, before shifting gears. “Alright, spill the details. And don’t leave anything out. I want to know everything. Not just for gossip but to help you figure things out.” With no other choice, Karina recounted Wilfred’s hot-and-cold behavior toward her. After hearing the story, Yvette leaned back with a sharp hiss, as if processing something heavy. “I think your, uh, friend’s boyfriend might just have something he’s keeping to himself. Maybe there’s a reason he doesn’t want her to know.” Karina’s brows furrowed slightly. “Think about it,” Yvette continued. “If he really didn’t care, would he have been so quick to catch he
Karina stood, but as she took a step, her foot caught on something, and she nearly fell. Before she could hit the ground, Wilfred caught her. The unexpected gesture left Karina more confused than ever. If he was so cold and distant moments ago, why would he help her like this? She wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Wilfred himself was surprised by his reaction. It had been pure instinct. The moment he saw her about to fall, he moved to catch her without a second thought. It was as if his heart acted faster than his words ever could. Before she could ask anything, Wilfred released her quickly, his demeanor detached once more, as if trying to explain away his actions. “Regardless, thank you for earlier.” He hesitated briefly before adding, “Do you have a way to get home? I can drive you if it’s inconvenient.” The warmth Karina felt moments ago instantly turned cold. She forced a bitter smile. “No need. I’ll get home on my own.” She laughed at herself inwardly, a s