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
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
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
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 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
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
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
He was silent for a few seconds, then finally pressed the answer button."Dean, you have to at least give me a chance to see you," Leo's voice came through the phone, tinged with frustration and a hint of urgency. "Just me. I’m coming alone."Dean knew Leo was different from the others. Leo had helped him before.After a brief hesitation, he spoke, "Twenty minutes. Meet me on the top floor."He hung up, leaned back in his chair, and exhaled deeply.Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Dean stood up to open it. Leo was standing there, looking anything but his usual carefree self. His face was uncharacteristically serious, even grim.Without a word, Leo walked straight to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a drink, and downed it in one go. Only then did he turn back to face Dean, his gaze a mixture of concern and something darker. "You really won’t give them any chance at all?"Dean leaned back on the sofa, his voice cold. "I don't want to."Leo sighed, setting his glass
As they drove, Dean couldn’t help but guess their destination. Greg wouldn’t have called him out without a reason—there had to be something special planned. But no matter how much he thought about it, Greg remained tight-lipped, offering no clues, and even went so far as to blindfold him.It wasn’t until the car stopped that Greg’s hand gently covered his face, his voice a whisper in his ear. "Don’t rush. When we get there, I’ll let you see."In the darkness, his senses heightened. Greg’s fingertips carried that familiar warmth, and his voice, low and steady, made Dean’s heartbeat quicken ever so slightly.Greg led him forward, his steps steady and unwavering, carrying an unspoken gravity. They passed through a narrow corridor, climbed a few stairs, and then descended several slopes. Throughout it all, Greg never let go of his hand. The warmth of his palm brought a sense of quiet reassurance to Dean."Where exactly are you taking me?" Dean finally couldn’t hold back.Greg chuckled sof
Shawn chuckled softly, his voice low and warm. "There are several orphanages nearby. Today, the children will gather in the hall for a small event. I thought I'd make some food for them. Would you be willing to help?"Dean’s heart jolted at his words.The disappointment he had felt just moments ago was now replaced by a deep sense of shame.It turned out that Shawn hadn’t brought him here for romance or excitement, but for these children.Of course, he would help. Without hesitation, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing the veins running clearly along his forearms, and answered with sincerity, "Of course."In the kitchen, the steam rose, the crackling sound of the fire filled the air, and the scent of food gradually began to drift around them.Shawn took charge of the meat, his knife moving swiftly and decisively, cutting with precision. Dean focused on the vegetables, washing, chopping, and carefully selecting the seasonings, making sure every detail was perfect.At times, they worked
The same deserted island they had once visited together.As the sea breeze swept across the deck, Dean stood at the railing of the cruise ship, watching the familiar island gradually emerge from the horizon. He froze, unable to look away."Do you remember this place?"Chen stood beside him, his tone soft but with a hint of hidden anticipation.Dean turned his head slightly, glancing at the man next to him. Under the night sky, Chen’s profile appeared particularly gentle, but the glint in his eyes held a playful, tender warmth that was uniquely his."Of course I remember," Dean replied with a light laugh. "But... why bring me here?""You'll understand once we set foot on the island," Chen said with a mysterious smile. "Don't worry, it won’t be as chaotic as last time."Dean raised an eyebrow, curiosity growing in his chest.As soon as his feet touched the island, he realized that things had quietly changed.Though the island still retained its untouched, natural beauty, there were now
Dean froze in place."Hey! How could you just leave like that?! What am I supposed to do?!"He tried to shout at Damon, but the man didn’t even look back, vanishing quickly down the slope.Frustrated, Dean stomped his foot. But the snow wasn’t kind enough to let him act on impulse. With a resigned sigh, he steeled himself and began making his way down the mountain, slowly and cautiously.True to form, he ended up falling several times, his backside almost sore from the repeated tumbles. By the time he finally reached the base of the mountain, he was fuming, ready to catch Damon and give him a good scolding.But when he looked up, everything changed.The snow-covered landscape, once barren and untouched, had been transformed into a dreamlike wedding venue.A deep crimson velvet carpet stretched across the white snow, flanked by golden candelabras and pure white roses. Warm light illuminated the scene, casting a soft, sacred glow across the entire place.And standing at the center of it
He had completely forgotten one thing—these four men were not the type to play by the rules!Before the plan even began, they united to scrap it completely."I don’t accept this three-month rotation business. I want to see him every day," Damon said confidently."Me too," Chen agreed without hesitation."Exactly, three months? Are you kidding me? We're not in a long-distance relationship," Shawn scoffed.Greg crossed his arms and added lazily, "And who can guarantee there won’t be any 'accidents' during those three months? If one of us does something to Dean, the other three will be disadvantaged."Dean was speechless, "...???"Weren't you the ones who came up with this plan?And now you're all in agreement to completely scrap it?But reality turned out to be even more absurd than Dean had imagined—Not only did they not rotate, but all four of them stayed.They immediately offloaded all the affairs of their gangs onto their subordinates and stayed by Dean's side every day, without a
But at that moment, his heart felt more at peace than ever before.Once the four of them were settled back in bed, Dean stood by their side, looking at each of them—still battered and bruised. Though they could speak and laugh, their faces were pale, their weakness evident, and it made his heart ache.He let out a soft sigh and was about to find a place to sit and rest for a moment when a familiar set of footsteps echoed from the doorway.Leo and Ted had arrived, followed by Linda and Tara."My dear little brother, are you alright?" Linda walked straight in, her gaze immediately scanning Dean, her eyes filled with concern.Dean flashed her a reassuring smile and shook his head lightly. “I’m fine. They protected me.”Tara’s eyes swept over the room, landing on the four men in bed, and she couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “I can tell. But you need to eat and rest too.”As she spoke, she pulled out a bowl of porridge from the thermos bag she was holding and handed it to Dean.Dean bli
Dean pressed his lips together, his eyes cast down, a faint, rueful smile tugging at his expression. “I just feel... a little greedy. And... I’m sorry for them.”The Messenger’s fingers lightly tapped on the desk, a sound that felt like both a reminder and an awakening. “Didn’t they say they don’t mind?”Dean fell silent for a moment, then gave a helpless smile. “But I’m supposed to be a decent man.”At his words, the Messenger let out a light chuckle. “Seems like you still don’t understand.”Dean looked up in confusion. “Understand what?”The Messenger’s smile faded, and his gaze grew intense as if he were peering into the depths of Dean’s soul. “Why are they all part of the mafia?”Dean froze, his breath momentarily catching in his chest.He had never truly thought about that question before.Why weren’t they ordinary people? Why weren’t they doctors, lawyers, professors, or even just regular businessmen?Why, of all things, were they in the mafia?Dean opened his mouth, but no word
Chen paused for a moment, then spoke in a low, steady voice. "Shawn wasn’t a coward. He knew the final blow would be the hardest, so he let us take the first hits."Greg picked up where he had left off, his voice calm but carrying a weight of its own. "He even predicted how Ricky would plan things. That’s why he made preparations on our way there."Dean’s pupils constricted slightly, and his mind buzzed with confusion.He remembered the blood, the agonizing screams—the ten shots Greg had taken, the hundred blows Damon had endured, the thousand punches and kicks Chen had absorbed.He even recalled the image of Shawn being dragged behind the motorcycle, the blood and flesh grinding into the pavement, leaving a glaring, gruesome trail.If what they said was true, then what about Shawn?What kind of resolve had he carried to endure all of this?As Dean’s thoughts spiraled into chaos, a cool hand slowly rested on the back of his hand.Dean snapped out of his reverie, looking down in surpri
Chen’s vision was still blurry, but he tried to focus. When he finally saw Dean clearly, a barely perceptible smile curved his lips. His voice was so weak, it was almost like a whispering breeze. “...Are you crying?”Dean sucked in a sharp breath, quickly wiping the moisture from the corner of his eye. He shook his head. “No... not at all...”Chen let out a soft chuckle, a hint of weary affection in his eyes. “You little fool.”Dean’s nose tingled, and he quickly lowered his head to pour water, trying to hide the overwhelming emotions that were about to break free.But just as he was handing the water to Chen, a muffled groan suddenly came from the other bed in the room.Dean’s head snapped around, and sure enough, he saw Damon’s fingers twitch slightly, his brow furrowed.“Damon!” Dean rushed over, his steps quickening. One moment, he was tending to Chen, and the next, he was kneeling at Damon’s bedside, his eyes filled with urgent concern.Damon slowly opened his eyes, his gaze daze