Damon walked unhesitatingly to a corner of the restaurant, choosing a seat with a clear view of Dean. What unsettled Dean the most was that Damon didn’t order anything. He rested his hands leisurely on the table, his eyes fixed unrelentingly on Dean. That gaze wasn’t hostile, nor was it provocative; it carried a deeper weight—an intense scrutiny mixed with an almost unsettling focus. The restaurant staff, clearly intimidated by Damon's commanding presence, kept their distance, none daring to approach or interrupt him.Dean’s mind raced, a torrent of thoughts flooding through him. He had no idea what Damon’s next move might be. Would he suddenly make a scene and forcibly drag Dean away? Or worse, was Leo somehow working with Damon and had lured him into a trap? The invisible pressure bore down on him, every muscle in his body taut with tension. But Dean knew he couldn’t afford to panic. He needed to stay composed and craft the perfect response, and quickly.Leo’s voice broke through hi
Leo hesitated visibly at Dean's request, a flicker of unease crossing his face. His gaze wavered as though weighing his thoughts carefully. Finally, he spoke, though his voice carried an unmistakable note of caution and worry."Dean," he began, the words measured and deliberate, "I can’t make decisions on Damon’s behalf. To be honest, I’m not even sure what’s on his mind right now. Maybe these attacks he orchestrated aren’t just about finding you—" He paused abruptly, uncertain whether to continue, the weight of his own speculation visibly holding him back.Dean’s eyes never left him, sharp and probing, silently pressing Leo to go on. Leo took a deep breath, as though steeling himself, before pressing forward."Actually," he admitted, his voice lower now, "I’m worried Damon might have his own agenda. You know... Ch—" He caught himself mid-word, visibly startled by his own slip. He had been about to utter the name "Chen" but swiftly corrected course. "That man," he continued carefully,
Hearing this, Damon turned to Leo, a flicker of puzzlement crossing his eyes. "You’re really hungry?" His tone carried a hint of impatience, as though Leo’s suggestion had disrupted the rhythm of his thoughts.Leo froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Just as he was about to speak, Damon cut him off, calling out to the waiter with a commanding voice: "Waiter, bring out all the cooked food you have. The kid’s starving." His words were blunt and forceful, radiating an unmistakable sense of authority that felt almost oppressive.Meanwhile, Chen wasn’t idle. Turning to the waiter, he said gently, "Could you please bring this gentleman a cup of hot chocolate?" His words, though brief, were imbued with warmth and genuine care. Dean, noticing Chen’s considerate gesture, felt a faint sense of comfort, though it starkly contrasted with Damon’s cold and domineering demeanor.As Chen’s quiet act of kindness played out, Damon’s expression darkened even further. His brows knitted tightly,
Dean took a deep breath, steeling himself before addressing Leo. “It seems we’re not getting anywhere here,” he said decisively. “Leo, how about this—you come to stay with me. No, scratch that, go stay at Chen’s place for a few days. We’ll get some time to catch up.” His tone carried a certain finality, as though this was the only viable solution. Dean’s true aim was clear: to get Leo out of this tense environment, even if temporarily, and to carve out some uninterrupted time to reconnect.Leo glanced at Chen nervously, his unease plain to see. “I… I’ll be safe there, right?” he asked hesitantly. There was a flicker of doubt in his voice, betraying his uncertainty about Chen’s intentions and whether staying at his place would truly offer refuge or plunge him deeper into danger.Dean rolled his eyes with exasperation, his patience wearing thin. Standing up, he reached over and gave Leo a light pat on the head, a gesture somewhere between reassurance and admonishment. “If it wasn’t safe
When they arrived at the new residence, the butler was already waiting outside. The house was even more refined and peaceful than the one Dean had stayed in before, with an understated elegance that immediately put him at ease. It was clear that this place had been chosen with thought, as if it was designed for a temporary sanctuary, for moments like these when Dean needed refuge.Under normal circumstances, Dean knew they would have taken time to show Leo around, to let him get a feel for the place. But Chen, without missing a beat, immediately handed Leo off to the butler with a few curt instructions before briskly ushering Dean inside. Leo looked a little taken aback by the sudden shift but didn’t question it. He simply followed the butler into the house, leaving Chen and Dean to retreat into the quiet of the residence.Dean was still hesitating, unsure whether it was appropriate to bring Leo along, and had just instructed the butler to call for him. As he pondered whether this was
Leo let out a deep breath before answering, his tone carrying a hint of something complex, perhaps even unease. "Chen carried you back to your room," he said, his words weighed down by the emotion in his voice. Noticing the confused look still on Dean’s face, Leo continued, his voice a little more tentative. "I was worried that Chen might take advantage of the situation, so I followed him, just to see if he’d do anything strange."A faint, awkward smile appeared on Leo's face as if he were trying to justify his actions. But the smile quickly faded as he became serious again. "But when I saw him, he just made sure you were settled and then left your room almost immediately. He didn’t do anything. So, I went back to my room and went to sleep, relieved."Dean listened carefully to Leo’s explanation, trying to piece together the fragments of his own memories from the night before. Chen carried him back to his room. He couldn’t remember that at all. But, from Leo’s description, and the fac
As Damon snapped back to reality, his expression darkened instantly. He shot a sharp, warning glare at Chen, his voice low and menacing. "Don't push it." His tone carried an unspoken threat, the kind that hinted at something far more dangerous beneath the surface.Chen shrugged indifferently, his tone calm and casual as he continued, “Why not? It’s simply my way of entertaining guests.” His gaze held a hint of mockery and challenge as if deliberately provoking Damon.Seeing Damon’s face darken with anger, Chen seemed to find it all the more amusing, a playful gleam in his eyes. With a chuckle, he added, “Don’t say I’m being disrespectful to you as a guest. If you don’t mind, I could have a tent set up in the yard for you to spend the night in. You can wait there until my three distinguished guests—the dog, the cat, and the pig—leave, and then you’ll be able to take their place.” His voice was laced with clear amusement, as though he was eagerly watching Damon’s reaction, enjoying the
Damon's transformation was unmistakable. His touch no longer carried the forceful urgency it once did. Instead, a newfound gentleness and patience were imbued with a warmth that surprised Dean. It reminded him of Chen—steady, soothing, and disarmingly calm. For a fleeting moment, Dean felt disoriented, as though the Damon before him wasn’t the same person he had known. The soft glide of Damon’s fingers along his cheek seemed to seek something unspoken, a subtle response. His deep voice murmured close to Dean’s ear, "I can really change for you." The words sent Dean’s heartbeat into an erratic rhythm, a strange warmth swelling in his chest.But then, the kiss began to shift. The earlier tenderness gave way to a growing intensity, each touch of Damon’s lips deepening with unspoken longing. Dean could feel the heat radiating from him, the soft graze of hands on his back becoming more deliberate, more searching. Damon’s actions hinted at a growing hunger, his body pressing closer, the spa
Sally sighed softly, as if speaking to a child who just didn’t understand. "My little Dean, that man was taken care of long ago by your four boyfriends, remember? The matter’s over, and yet you still want to dredge up the past?"Dean clenched his fists so tightly that the ropes around his wrists dug deeper into his skin, the pressure causing faint trickles of blood to surface."How can you... be so unreasonable?!" he spat, his voice strained with frustration.Sally’s smile grew even more pronounced, her expression now tinged with mockery. "Oh, dear brother, we’re in the underworld now. Unreasonable? That’s just how things are, isn't it?"Dean’s heart tightened painfully. He looked at the woman standing before him—once his closest ally, his sister—now standing firmly on the side of the enemy, speaking with such cold, merciless words."How did you become like this..." he muttered, the words heavy with disbelief and pain.But before he could even finish, he was interrupted by the mocking
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
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