The messenger seemed both amused and exasperated by the question. He smacked the table hard with his hand, letting out a sharp laugh. “Just think of him as an old man with a penchant for drama,” he said, shaking his head with a sigh that spoke of his own predicament. “But his standards for this whole reincarnation business are ridiculously high. It’s making life tough for those of us working under him!”Dean couldn’t help but find it amusing as he watched the messenger's exaggerated expression of grievance.Suddenly, the space around them dimmed, as if the entire world’s power had been abruptly cut off. In the pitch-black void, Dean instinctively held his breath. All that remained was an overwhelming silence, punctuated only by the rapid thud of his heartbeat.Time seemed to stretch endlessly until, at last, the power returned. A gentle light flooded the room once more, banishing the darkness."You…" Dean stared at the messenger in front of him, nearly falling to the ground in shock.
The moment those words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room froze. Leo slapped his forehead, his face twisted in disbelief as he muttered under his breath, "Oh my God."Ted, standing by the door, had gone from relaxed to serious in a matter of moments. He took a few steps forward, his gaze fixed on Dean, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. "Dean, no way. You didn't forget about my boss, did you?"Dean turned his gaze toward Ted, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Ted... he's your boss?"Shawn froze at the side, his lips trembling slightly, yet unsure of what to say. Leo's eyes widened, his expression one of utter disbelief as if the situation before him made no sense. Meanwhile, Chen and Damon wore expressions of mixed emotions—disappointment intertwined with a glimmer of hope.The room fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the steady beeping of the machines, their rhythmic sounds echoing through the air. It was as though the machines themselves were silently reveali
"Because you helped me escape from Benjamin Winston's house," Dean paused for a moment, his voice tinged with guilt, "and because of me, you got hurt..."Dr. Parker's expression froze for a moment before he broke into a light smile. "Oh, so you do remember that I was hit. Now, tell me, do you remember who hit me?"Dean tried to focus, his brow furrowing once more as he searched his memory. He raised a hand to rub his temple. "It’s... the one who trapped me. But who he is, I..." Before he could finish, he suddenly clutched his head, his face contorting with a flash of pain.Dr. Parker quickly placed a hand on his shoulder. "Alright, alright, don’t push it. Don’t force yourself." He paused for a moment, then spoke gently, "Let me tell you, that person was one of the ones you've forgotten—Shawn Hansley. If you can’t remember him now, it’s perfectly normal."Dean lowered his eyes, his voice soft. "I’m sorry, Dr. Parker..."Dr. Parker chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Stop apologizing a
Damon suddenly raised his hand, his tone laced with a hint of mockery. “Of course, he’s mine.”Chen immediately chimed in, cutting Damon off without hesitation, but not in agreement. “Wrong, he’s mine!”The two of them spoke almost in unison, and in an instant, a fresh round of verbal sparring erupted, sharp and heated as ever.Leo didn’t seem keen on a confrontation. Instead, he had a sudden idea and turned to Ted with a "compromise." “You could just call them both 'boss.' That way, no matter who Dean belongs to, he’s still your ‘sister-in-law’!”Ted froze for a moment, then slapped the table in disbelief. “But doesn’t that make me a traitor to my boss?”Leo shrugged nonchalantly. “With a boss like yours, whether you follow him or not, it doesn’t really matter. But a sister-in-law like Dean? Hard to come by, seriously. Just look at the three of them—fighting over him like this.”Dean lay in the hospital bed, his eyes closed, but inside, a storm was raging. His fingers twitched slight
At that moment, Leo couldn’t help but interrupt, his tone teasing. “Well, well… I’m so jealous of Dean…” As he spoke, he casually draped his arm around Ted’s, wearing an exaggerated, almost girlish expression of envy. His eyes sparkled with mischief, but there was an underlying sincerity to his words. He dramatically sighed, as though he, too, were caught in this “romantic” whirlwind, which only made the others chuckle at his playful antics.Next, Chen spoke up, his voice calm and thoughtful, as though he were carefully weighing his words. “At first, I was just curious. Truly curious about what kind of person could drive Damon Greyson to this extent.” He continued casually, “He’s even managed to take down an elder of the Dragon Gang with his own hands, breaking all the previous rules. What’s even more curious is that the moment Dean saw me, he mistook me for Damon. That’s when I felt compelled to observe him, to see how long he’d keep up that misunderstanding. But more than that, I wa
Dean froze for a moment, a sudden thought rising in his mind. "Is this... Chen's mother?"But before he could voice the question, Chen was already staring at the gravestone, his voice steady as he spoke. "Mom, this is Dean Harrison, the one I love."The words hit Dean like a thunderclap, striking straight to his heart. His eyes widened in shock, his face flushing with heat, and he stood frozen in place. He hadn’t anticipated Chen would say something like that, especially not in such a setting, so suddenly.Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Chen continued, his tone unwavering. "But, Mom, your precious son also happens to like him.""Your precious son?" Dean was caught off guard, the words sending his thoughts into complete disarray.Chen seemed to notice his confusion. He turned to glance at Dean, a hint of playful amusement in his eyes. "Damon," he said casually. "The one Mom always doted on, the one she missed the most."Dean finally began to piece things together, though the r
Dean looked at him, a flicker of curiosity crossing his mind. “So why has it changed? Why does it feel so warm now?”Chen lowered his head, a small smile tugging at his lips, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. “Because I wanted to bring you here. I wanted to share with you those memories that are special to me. As for you... I’m not sure if you still remember the ones that are special to you.”Dean frowned slightly, confusion tugging at him. “What memories?”Chen let out a soft sigh, his voice carrying a trace of distant nostalgia. “We once went to a deserted island. We stayed there for three days and two nights. I built a small shack on the island, but you couldn’t sleep at all, not used to the unfamiliar place. I thought maybe tonight, we’d stay here, so I went ahead and prepared a bed for you.”Dean felt a sudden warmth, but as soon as he heard "spend the night," his eyes widened in surprise. "Sp... spend the night?" he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.Chen gav
Dean froze, utterly at a loss for words. His thoughts spiraled into chaos as he lowered his head, unable to come up with a retort. Instead, he instinctively shrank back slightly. “I… How would I know if you’d keep your word?” he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.Hearing this, Chen’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, a sly smile tugging at his lips. “Well then,” he said lightly, “how about I prove it to you? But first, let me ask you something.”Dean blinked, caught off guard. A sudden sense of foreboding crept over him, making him hesitant. “What do you want to ask?” he managed, his voice uneven.Chen leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a soft, magnetic murmur. “May I kiss you?” he asked, the question tender yet startlingly direct, as though he were seeking an answer to something far more profound.Dean froze, his heart racing like it might leap out of his chest. The sounds around him faded into a distant hum, leaving only the sharp clarity of the moment. He stared a
He hadn’t taken it seriously at the time, but now, he never would have imagined that there would come a day when he would need such a place.The lobby manager was already waiting. As soon as he saw Dean, he immediately approached him with respectful professionalism. "Mr. Harrison, we've prepared a room for you on the top floor. You can check in at any time."Dean furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion in his expression. "How did you know I was coming?"The manager offered a polished smile. "Your friend, Leo, made the arrangements in advance. He said you might need a quiet place."Dean froze for a moment, an unexpected wave of emotion sweeping through him.Leo...That seemingly carefree, always acting nonchalant guy had taken the time to set up an escape plan for him?He had even gone so far as to ask the young lady to help and secure the quietest room on the top floor?Dean pressed his lips together, a mixture of emotions welling up inside him.He wasn’t without friends, after all.At
Among the four people he trusted the most, Shawn’s betrayal was the one he could never accept.Shawn had built his empire with his fists, carving a path through blood and corpses. And yet, he had always believed that, at the very least, Shawn was a man of honor.He was wrong.He couldn’t have been more wrong.The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the Shark Gang’s headquarters. The gang members stationed at the entrance stepped aside the moment they saw him. No one tried to stop him—Ted had already given the order."Mr. Harrison." Someone greeted him with respectful deference.Dean didn’t respond immediately. He kept walking, his pace unwavering and his demeanor cold. The lobby was filled with whispers, the members of the Shark Gang pausing in their work to glance his way. No one dared to stop him, knowing that Ted had already made arrangements.As Dean strode through the building, his eyes briefly flickered over the gathered faces, cold and indifferent. It wasn’t long before Ted
Damon’s eyes instantly filled with panic.Unable to stand still any longer, he rushed toward Dean, and no matter how much Dean struggled, he held onto him tightly. "Dean! Please, listen to me—please, let me explain!""I don’t want to hear it!" Dean fought with every ounce of strength, his voice raw. "I don’t want to hear it! I’m nothing but a disposable pawn in your grand Dragon Gang plan!"Damon’s heart clenched violently. He had never felt so frantic in his life. "Dean, please! Calm down! Just listen to me—"Seizing the moment of Damon’s panic, Dean wrenched himself free from his grip and bolted toward the door of the office.He threw all his strength into yanking the door open, and there, just outside the elevator, he saw Leo standing, looking at him in confusion."Dean?"Dean’s gaze fell on the elevator as the doors slowly slid open. He turned back one last time to look at Damon, his eyes hollow with utter despair.He looked at Leo, his voice trembling. "Leo… If you consider me yo
He frowned, a sense of unease creeping up on him. It all felt a little too coincidental, like something was off, but he couldn't quite place it.Still, no matter what, he was always used to being alone. Shrugging off the nagging feeling, he let it go for now. Breakfast first.After breakfast, Dean went as usual to sort through the boxes that had been moved from Joe's villa. There were forty boxes in total, and he had already gone through most of them. The remaining ones seemed to hold little importance. Yet, he continued his meticulous search, knowing that even in these seemingly insignificant items, there might be a clue that could shed light on either Sally or Joe.However, today’s search felt different.When his eyes landed on a box in the corner of the room, he furrowed his brow.He had no memory of this box.It appeared older than the others, its surface covered in a thin layer of dust, as though it hadn't been touched in years. Stranger still, when he tried to move it, he found
Damon’s hand was the first to rest gently on his, his voice tender but tinged with worry. "Are you okay?"Chen gently supported his shoulder, carefully studying his face. "Do you feel any discomfort?"Shawn furrowed his brow, his gaze never leaving him. "Do you need me to call a doctor?"Greg’s expression was more somber than the others, a hint of restlessness in his voice as he sighed. "Why aren't you speaking? Does something hurt again?"Dean blinked, fully realizing that he had indeed returned.The words of the messenger from the afterlife echoed in his mind—he hadn’t been taken advantage of by Joe. Yet, even so, he still needed to hear it from these four, to hear the truth from them before he could truly find peace.He cleared his throat slowly, his voice hoarse. "I... was I... slept with?"The four of them froze almost simultaneously, their expressions varying, yet all betraying a mix of anger and concern.Damon tightened his grip on his hand, looking at him with unwavering deter
Dean held his breath, barely daring to hear the words that were about to follow.Joe slowly curved his lips into a smile, and with a soft exhale, he uttered two words that sent a chill through the air."Sleep with you."As his words hung in the air, Joe didn’t hesitate for a moment. He leaned down, capturing Dean’s lips with an intensity that left no room for escape.Joe’s kiss was ruthless and commanding, carrying the unmistakable weight of someone who expected complete control, without the slightest trace of tenderness. Dean tried to pull away, but he couldn’t even summon the strength to turn his head. The pressure from Joe’s presence was overwhelming. He fought desperately, but the lingering numbness from the shock earlier still gripped his body, leaving his limbs unresponsive. Every attempt at resistance only felt more futile than the last.Joe clearly showed no concern for Dean’s resistance; if anything, he seemed to take pleasure in the desperation of his prey. With one hand, he
Dean’s face drained of color in an instant, his pupils narrowing slightly. “What?” he breathed, his voice barely a whisper.Sally shrugged casually as if discussing something insignificant. “It was me who told everyone you were an easy target, which is why they liked bullying you.”It was as though the very foundation of Dean’s world crumbled at that moment.He stared at Sally, his eyes wide with shock, anger, and disbelief. He never could have imagined that the painful memories from his childhood and adolescence, the ones that haunted him, had all come from the very sister he had trusted most.He opened his mouth, but the words were trapped in his throat as if his very vocal cords had been scorched by fire. “Why…?”Sally’s laugh was sharp, dripping with sarcasm. “Why do you look so shocked? Fine, let me tell you,” she said with a lazy smile.She narrowed her eyes slightly, a malicious curve to her lips. “I did it all to make you angry, to push you into cutting ties with me.”Dean’s f
Joe strolled toward him at a leisurely pace, a knowing smile playing at the corner of his lips. With eerie ease, he scooped Dean off the ground as though lifting a helpless kitten, the motion so smooth it sent a chill down Dean’s spine."Be good," Joe murmured, his voice soft and almost playful as he gently placed Dean back on the bed.Then, standing before Sally, Joe lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her cheek, a smug look spreading across his face. "See, I told you, your plan isn’t going to work."Sally didn’t say a word. She just coldly watched Dean on the bed, her gaze unreadable, emotions flickering behind her eyes like a storm waiting to break.Joe bent down, his fingers curling around Dean's chin, forcing him to look up and meet his eyes.There was something possessive in his gaze—mocking, assessing, even tinged with a dark, almost malicious amusement."Your little brother, huh? He's a lot sharper than you think," Joe remarked, his voice lazy, a playful hint of admiration
The air in the room grew thick with emotion, the weight of years apart pressing down on them in silence.For a long while, neither of them spoke.Finally, Dean broke the quiet, his voice carrying a tangle of emotions.“Sis… your face…”Sally loosened her hold on him and gave a small smile. “I had an accident. It left me scarred, so… I no longer look the same.”Dean fell silent.A flicker of pain crossed his gaze.Memories crashed over him—the fights, the reckless words, the way they parted on bitter terms… the way they had cut ties completely.For years, he had convinced himself she wanted nothing to do with him, that she had disappeared from his life for good.But now—she was here.Alive.The realization came with a wave of overwhelming guilt.He lowered his head, his throat tightening. His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke.“Sis, I’m sorry.”Sally’s eyes widened slightly. Then, with a soft chuckle, she reached out and ruffled his hair, just like she used to when they were kids.