Dean's emotions were tangled, and despite appearing compliant on the outside, the unease within him remained unshaken. He knew deep down that he had reached a point of no return—any resistance would change nothing. Closing his eyes, he followed Dr. Parker's instructions, making a conscious effort to relax. Slowly, he let his body ease into a state of calm, though his mind remained alert, wary of what might come next.Despite his best efforts to quiet his mind, Dean’s thoughts continued to race, a whirlwind of confusion and fear swirling within him. He couldn’t shake the worry that he might accidentally reveal something he shouldn’t, especially about his reborn. The idea of letting such a secret slip, even under hypnosis, terrified him.As time passed, however, his body began to relax. The tension in his muscles eased, his heartbeat slowed, and his consciousness began to fade, slipping into a haze. Just as he thought he was on the verge of total emptiness, the surroundings around him s
"A blessing in itself?" Dean scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. He clenched his fists, forcing himself not to be provoked by the messenger’s nonchalance. "I think this new identity is too cowardly."The messenger raised an eyebrow. His voice remained calm, but with a trace of something almost dismissive. "Cowardice has its advantages too. Strength isn’t always a virtue."The messenger's words only fueled Dean’s anger further, and he almost blurted out, "Strength at least allows you to protect yourself!" He took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the rising fury, before continuing, his voice laced with frustration. "This cowardly identity I have now—any time I face the slightest threat, I’m left with no choice but to swallow my anger and endure. If I keep living like this, what happens if something goes wrong?"The messenger of the afterlife stared at Dean, his gaze revealing an enigmatic emotion, something not easily understood. His voice remained calm, but there was an
Dean shook his head, his movements slow and sluggish. His gaze drifted from the doctor to Shawn. "No... no," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper, devoid of emotion, almost distant as if he were still caught in a haze.Shawn furrowed his brow, clearly unconvinced. He straightened up and fixed his gaze on Dr. Parker, his tone carrying a commanding edge. “Well?”Dr. Parker paused for a moment, not answering immediately. Instead, he gestured for Shawn to step aside with him. “Mr. Hansley, let’s talk outside,” he said briefly, his words laced with an intentional sense of secrecy.The lines on Shawn's face tightened instantly. He glanced at Dean, checking whether he was truly right, before reluctantly following the doctor toward the door. Once they left, the room was left in a heavy silence, broken only by the fading echo of their footsteps and the lingering hum in Dean's ears, a reminder of the chaos he'd just endured.Dean lay in bed, his gaze blankly fixed on the ceiling. His body fe
He tried to piece the images together, but all he could form each time was either an empty void or a thick, suffocating fog. Dean took a deep breath, his fingers gripping the table's edge, trying to steady himself and focus. But the chaotic memories kept flooding in, like an overwhelming tide, submerging him completely.To Shawn, Dean’s efforts at that moment seemed more like a helpless struggle. His gaze was complex, but he ultimately held back from speaking. He thought to himself that perhaps it was best to give Dean some space—let him eat first, and then, when the time was right, they could confront the heavier topics waiting between them.Dean sensed Shawn’s gaze and slowly lifted his head, his eyes locking with Shawn's. A flicker of confusion crossed his mind. Something felt different about Shawn today. In the past, Shawn had always been eager, almost desperate for him to remember everything, willing to push him in any way possible to trigger those lost memories. But today, Shawn
Ben noticed Dean's reaction and flashed a warm smile, extending his hand toward him. "Hello, Dean, I’m Benjamin Winston."Dean’s body stiffened slightly, a wave of unfamiliarity and unease washing over him, making it feel like he could hardly breathe. His eyes instinctively flickered over Ben, but then quickly dropped to the floor as he struggled to figure out how to respond. The memories of the past surged within him, and he couldn’t help but question if he was truly ready to face these people. Though he tried to steady his breathing, a sharp sense of caution kept prickling at him, urging him to be on guard.Shawn seemed to notice Dean’s hesitation, his brow furrowing as his voice dropped to a low, impatient tone. “What are you doing? Throwing a tantrum? You’d better not play games in front of Uncle Ben.”There was an undeniable sense of command in Shawn’s voice that made Dean tense up. He forced himself to suppress the rising disgust and looked between Ben and Shawn, a wave of confu
Dean furrowed his brows, his emotions growing more complex. "Are you really going to talk badly about her in front of her own brother? And not just any brother—her twin, someone who shares the same face as her." He did his best to suppress the anger bubbling up inside him, his voice laced with warning and discontent.Ted shrugged dismissively, continuing without a hint of concern. "This isn't bad-mouthing, it's just the truth as I see it. Even if you two are twins with the same face... wait, no, not the same. Trust me." Ted glanced at Dean, sizing him up, as if comparing him to someone from his past before continuing."She saved the boss once, and from that moment, he saw her as his savior. Then she kept running away and coming back, running away and coming back. It’s so obvious, playing hard to get," Ted said, his tone dripping with mockery. "Totally unlike you. I’ve seen you argue back, resist, even run off through that forest. You still haven’t accepted my boss, and I respect that.
A flicker of hesitation passed through Dean’s eyes. He opened his mouth slightly, then, with a note of quiet hope, he asked, "Is that possible?" His tone carried a subtle yearning, as though even this simple request might bring him a moment of warmth.Shawn fell silent for a moment, like pondering something. Finally, he spoke, his voice laced with an enigmatic tone. "The party tonight, many representatives from various gangs will be attending." There was a mysterious quality to his words as if everything about the evening held connections to some unknown matters.Dean’s hope flared up in an instant upon hearing Shawn’s words, but just as he was about to let a smile form, Shawn’s next sentence hit him like a bucket of cold water, dousing all his expectations. "Unfortunately, neither the Dragon Gang nor the Cobra Gang will be attending. Looks like you won’t be seeing your Damon Greyson or Chen Dankworth after all. What a shame," Shawn said, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his
He muttered softly to himself, "Yes, Dr. Parker... Dr. Parker." The thought seemed to bring a glimmer of hope, a small shift in his heart. Perhaps Dr. Parker’s hypnosis session could offer him a new kind of change. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the path that would lead him out of this suffocating situation.This treatment was different from the previous one. It wasn’t taking place in his own room, but in a place he had carefully selected. Dean felt a twinge of hesitation; his choice wasn’t driven solely by comfort, instead it was via a more personal motive. He wanted to speak with Dr. Parker, and this place—Shawn’s room—was the most secluded and hidden in his mind. It was the perfect place to have the conversation he had been avoiding.Though this room was usually off-limits to everyone plus Shawn wasn’t here today, Dean had more than enough time to process his thoughts. He wasn’t bound by the usual rules this time; in fact, he felt a hint of selfishness. He knew he needed the quie
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