At Dean's words, the twins seemed to relax, exchanging a quick smile, but the next moment, they locked eyes with one another, and their relaxed expressions quickly morphed into one of challenge. Dean rolled his eyes, shaking his head in exasperation. With a push, he shoved his way past them and quickly slipped between their bodies to get out the door.Dean thought his plans for the day were neatly in place. The only hiccup seemed to be the unexpected responsibility of the twins to take him back and forth. He assumed the day wouldn't be too complicated. But not long after, he realized how wrong he was. Things were taking an unexpected turn, and the situation was rapidly veering off course. When he finally settled into Damon’s car, he waited for a long time—but Leo still hadn't gotten in.Just as Dean was about to search for the elusive figure of Leo, his peripheral vision caught sight of something near Chen's sports car. Leo was being dragged into the car by Chen, unable to escape desp
Damon's words hung heavily in the air. "I can’t help it," he said, his voice carrying a subdued weight. "It feels like if I let my guard down for even a second, Chen will take you away from me." The confession was laden with unspoken fears, a thread of vulnerability and quiet desperation woven into his tone.Dean’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at Damon and saw someone different from the assertive, self-assured person he was used to. In this moment, Damon seemed softer, almost fragile—more like a boy grappling with his insecurities than the commanding figure Dean had always known. The transformation was striking, and it left Dean at a loss.The mixture of emotions within him swirled into an intricate knot—sympathy, confusion, and something deeper, harder to name. He wanted to reach out, to offer reassurance but found himself struggling to find the right words. Damon’s openness was rare, and Dean felt both moved and unprepared to face it. All he could do was hold Damon’s gaze, his ow
The atmosphere had grown uncomfortably awkward, and Dean couldn’t help but feel a wave of exasperation—not because of Linda’s reaction, but because of those two damned twins. Damon and Chen stood there, seemingly unbothered by the unexpected tension, their indifference only deepening the awkwardness. Dean pressed his lips together, searching for a way to defuse the situation and lighten the mood.Thankfully, Tara stepped in without hesitation. “Alright, gentlemen, why don’t we head to the store and grab some ingredients? We’ll need them for the barbecue later,” she suggested, her voice calm yet commanding, carrying a no-nonsense authority that left little room for objection. “Let these three relax in the camper while we’re gone.”Turning to Linda, Dean, and Leo, she said reassuringly, “You all chat and get comfortable—we won’t be long.” With that, she took the lead, heading toward the car. Damon and Chen exchanged a glance with Dean but said nothing as they followed her. Their movemen
The atmosphere in the camper immediately crackled with tension. Dean froze in place, his expression shifting between disbelief, shock, and outright indignation. “I—You—” he sputtered, his words caught in a tangled mix of embarrassment and rage. His face burned red as he glared daggers at Leo, clearly moments away from launching into a full-blown tirade.Just as Dean opened his mouth to deliver a sharp retort, Linda surprised him by chiming in. “Actually… I’m curious too,” she admitted, raising her eyebrows with a cheeky smile. Her tone was half-joking, but her eyes sparkled with the undeniable glee of someone fully immersed in the drama.Caught in the crossfire, Dean found himself at a loss for words. His gaze shifted helplessly between Linda and Leo before he finally sighed in resignation. “It’s... different,” he admitted quietly. He paused, as if gathering the courage to elaborate, then continued, his voice tinged with an honest vulnerability. “One’s strong-willed, the other’s gentl
Tara climbed into the vehicle, carrying the groceries she’d just purchased from the supermarket. After setting them down on the table, she clapped her hands decisively and said, “All set! We can head out now. So, who’s driving?”Chen was the next to board. After neatly arranging his share of the items, he spoke up without hesitation. “I’ll drive. Dean, can you check the navigation for me?” His tone was calm, almost casual, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—an unmistakable hint of expectation, as though he was looking for a small excuse to interact with Dean.But before the words had even settled, Damon, still lingering by the door, wasn’t about to be outdone. “Do you really need Dean to handle navigation?” he quipped, stepping past Chen and making his way to the table. Raising an eyebrow and flashing a sly grin, he added, “Why don’t I drive instead? Dean can sit with me and relax—no tasks, no worries. Sounds much better, doesn’t it?”The subtle tension between the two b
The words hit Dean like a sharp, direct blow, striking deep within him. He lowered his gaze, remaining silent for a moment, before letting out a long, resigned sigh. “Maybe… But what about you? If it were you, what would you do?”Without hesitation, Linda raised an eyebrow and smiled confidently, her tone light and assured. “I’d take both.” She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, a decision so simple it didn’t even warrant a second thought.Dean glanced up at her, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “Linda, do you know… this is way beyond anything I thought I could handle.” His voice dropped to a softer, almost reflective tone, as if speaking more to himself than to her—almost as though he were answering a version of himself from another time. Perhaps, he was not only referring to his present emotional turmoil but to the deeply ingrained taboos and principles that had shaped his past, his previous life.Linda lis
"You!" Leo's expression shifted in an instant from aggrieved to furious. He brandished the fork in his hand, as if ready to charge forward and demand justice at any moment. Unfortunately, faced with the twins' calm and unwavering demeanor, his attempted retaliation came across as both feeble and comical.To diffuse the tension, Tara stood up and clapped her hands. "Alright, alright, that's enough! No more arguing! Such a delightful meal deserves the perfect drink to go with it." She flashed a sly smile before turning to the car and pulling out a mysterious box. Inside were her prized cocktail tools and an assortment of spirits. "Today, you’ll get to witness my masterpiece!"And with that, Tara's cocktail performance began. She moved with practiced finesse—shaking, pouring, and spinning with fluid precision. The liquor sparkled under the glow of the fire and the soft light, casting mesmerizing hues that danced like rainbows. The seamless flow of her motions left everyone stunned, mouth
"I already tried—it’s not working!" Damon snapped; his voice still calm but tinged with undeniable urgency.Suddenly, Leo's panicked scream burst through the phone. "Dean, I’m scared! Ahhh!"Dean’s chest tightened, his pulse racing. He turned to look out the back window, just in time to see Damon’s car lurch forward and slam into the rear of Chen’s vehicle. The impact was jarring, sending a violent shudder through the car, but Chen’s reflexes were razor-sharp. He gripped the wheel and kept the car steady with precision."Get out of the way!" Damon’s voice shouted over the phone. "I need a clear path—something to force the car to stop!"Chen quickly adjusted his speed, steering the car with precision as he calmly replied, "Got it. Don’t panic!" As he spoke, he veered the car toward the shoulder, creating enough space for Damon’s car to surge ahead.Damon’s vehicle shot past, barely grazing Chen’s car in the process. Chen didn’t give chase right away. Instead, he brought the car to a co
He spoke leisurely, but his tone showed a trace of helplessness. “She even told me to stay away from you. Said a kid like you had no business getting tangled up with people like us… that you'd only end up getting hurt.”Dean fell silent. He could understand Greg’s mother’s concerns—the Golden Eagle Gang’s reputation was well-known. And back then, he had been just an ordinary student… a little crybaby, even.But then Greg’s tone shifted, tinged with pride. “I proved to her that you weren’t a coward, just someone who knew how to endure. Only then did she agree to help me and speak to that old man. And after that… well, the old man took care of the problem.”So that was it. Everything finally clicked into place.Dean finally found his voice, though there was still disbelief in it. “How did you prove it?”Greg chuckled softly. There was an unmistakable laziness in his voice as he drawled, “I had my guys pretend to go after your family. And you rushed out to protect them. That doesn’t exac
Dean was momentarily stunned, then let out a sigh and smiled. “You truly do know a lot.”Robert lazily waved a hand, his tone carrying a hint of indifference. “Go get some rest…”Dean nodded, stood up, and headed for the door. Just as he reached it, he turned back to glance at Robert, a mix of emotions flickering in his gaze. “Uncle Robert, see you later.”Robert watched his retreating figure, the corners of his lips curling slightly. There was a barely perceptible trace of admiration in his eyes. ‘What a good kid.’Just as Dean was about to step out, Robert suddenly spoke. “By the door, on the left-hand shelf, second tier, second from the right—those antique gold-rimmed cups. Take them. They’re yours.”Dean froze mid-step, turning back in surprise. “I can’t possibly accept that!”Robert’s expression remained unchanged, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. “Take them. No refusals.”Dean opened his mouth, wanting to protest, but in the end, he simply walked over to the s
Dean furrowed his brow, a sense of unease creeping up his spine. Something in Robert’s words hinted at layers beneath the surface, as though there were truths left unspoken. His fingers tightened slightly as if trying to steady the flutter of uncertainty in his chest. “Like what? How much do you know? How… how far back does it go?”Robert’s gaze remained steady and sharp as he slowly uttered a name. “I know about what happened between you and Benjamin Winston. Does that answer your question?”The air seemed to freeze at that moment. Dean’s usually composed expression cracked, a flicker of shock flashing across his face. His throat tightened, his pupils narrowing slightly. Almost instinctively, he took a small step back, his lips trembling. “You… how could you know?”Robert’s gaze didn’t waver. He still held that unsettling calm, the air around him thick with a sense of unspoken power. But his voice carried a subtle pressure. “Do you know why that bastard stopped?”Dean’s breath caught
"If we’re going to look into this, someone has to talk to him." Dean’s expression remained calm, but his eyes were unwavering. "I’ll be careful."Greg stared at Dean long before muttering, "Don't trust that old man too easily."Dean gave a nod and then set off on the final stretch of the path leading to the villa. He hadn’t expected anything particularly unusual—until he emerged onto an open clearing and saw a private helicopter approaching. He froze for a few seconds. Good thing he wasn’t afraid of heights, or else he would never have a chance to meet the old man.The helicopter carried him up to the mountaintop, where a team of impeccably trained attendants awaited him. They said nothing, merely bowed with perfect composure and led him forward.It wasn’t until he stepped inside the legendary villa that he truly grasped the scale of its opulence.The corridor alone was dazzling—gilded and magnificent, lined with a carpet so thick and plush that each step felt as if it might swallow h
Greg’s gaze drifted from Chen and Damon back to Ben, his eyes narrowing slightly, a calculating glint hidden beneath his casual demeanor.Ben’s eyes gleamed with a mix of defiance and challenge, a hint of resentment flickering beneath his arrogant demeanor. He lifted his chin slightly, his face radiating pride. “Well, young master, I have now proved I’m not the mastermind behind all this.”Shawn’s footsteps approached from a distance, calm and measured as ever. His voice carried a cool tone. “Maybe not for those two matters, but I have something else here.” He walked steadily toward them, his hand gently resting on Dean’s, each step was deliberate, though the weight of the situation seemed to hang heavily in the air.Greg offered a faint smile, his voice laced with a cold undertone. “Your interrogations never seem to stop, do they? You’ve certainly left a trail of misdeeds.” He glanced briefly at Ben, his eyes devoid of pity. “But do you think you can escape this?”Ben’s expression sh
Damon gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable, his eyes dark and impenetrable, as they could see straight into Ben’s soul. "That’s right. Now… how about you hand over that little thing you’ve got?" He turned to Greg."This?" Greg glanced at the gun in his hand, hesitation flashing in his eyes. After a tense pause, he forced a grin. "Alright… but don’t touch him there. Leave that part for me."Damon’s eyes gleamed with a cold smile, his voice chillingly casual. "Fine. Then I’ll cripple him first."Ben’s heart sank like a stone, his pulse racing as if his blood were flowing in reverse. He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. "Gentlemen… can’t we talk this through?"Damon’s lips curled into a sharp, almost cruel smile, his eyes filled with disdain. "Sure. I’ll give you one chance to speak properly. Waste it… and there’s nothing I can do to help you." His tone was light, almost indifferent, but it carried an unmistakable weight that crushed the air out of the room.Ben’s
Greg’s uncle caught a glimpse of the simmering intent to kill in Greg’s eyes and finally broke down. His voice trembled uncontrollably, each word drenched in panic. "Young master! It was him! He told me to do it! Please, young master, just grant me a swift end!"Greg turned his head slightly, throwing a glance at his uncle. A cold, humorless chuckle escaped his lips. "Alright. Since you are being so sincere, I’ll deal with him first."He raised his hand, pointing the gun directly at Ben’s most vulnerable spot. The barrel loomed close—too close. Ben stared at it in wide-eyed terror, the last threads of his composure snapping. He collapsed into desperate sobs. "No! Please, no! Young master!""Fair is fair. He’s already been dealt with down there. Now, it’s your turn."Ben broke completely, his voice cracking with raw fear and anguish. "I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything! I’m not the mastermind! Neither is your uncle! We’re just pawns! He takes orders from me, and I… I follow the orders
Greg’s eyes narrowed as he shifted his gaze toward the man, his expression colder than ice. His voice was calm but laced with lethal intent. “Go on. Keep talking.”The man’s lips quivered before he finally broke down and spoke. “It was me… I waited until she fell asleep, then lit the charcoal to make it look like a suicide…”A heavy silence fell over the hall, suffocating and absolute. For a brief moment, it seemed the truth had finally surfaced—until the man suddenly raised a trembling hand and pointed in another direction. “But it wasn’t my idea! He made me do it! He’s the mastermind!”All eyes followed his finger and landed on Benjamin Winston.Ben, clutching his ribs in pain, still forced himself to stand tall, his voice rising defiantly. “Nonsense! You can’t just spout accusations like that! You can twist the story all you want, but don’t think I’ll sit here and take it!”Greg sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Oh, you’re one to talk. Since when have you ever told the tr
Dean froze for a moment, then gave a small nod, though a deeper storm raged in his heart. He couldn’t deny it—Greg was terrifyingly formidable. His every movement exuded authority, and with just a few words, he could break a person’s will completely. Watching him, Dean couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. This heir to the underworld was far from ordinary—he was a born predator.The tension in the hall thickened like smoke, suffocating and inescapable. Greg’s voice, calm yet commanding, cut through the heavy silence. Sitting with one leg crossed over the other, he looked every bit like a judge presiding over a grim trial. His words carried an air of finality."That’s enough for now," he declared, eyes sweeping over the room. "Now, let’s move on… to the matter of my Aunty Jane."The moment he spoke her name, a chill ran through the room like an icy draft. Ben, still writhing on the floor, weakly lifted his head, his voice barely a croak. "W-What…?"Greg’s gaze dropped lazily to Ben, but his