Neil continued holding me, lifting me to his eye level so our gazes met. He smiled softly, his eyes filled with warmth. “Why are you so adorable?” he murmured, and before I could react, he placed another gentle kiss on my forehead.
In that moment, my heart practically burst with joy, a wave of emotion sweeping through me like a warm tide. An irrepressible urge surged within me—the impulse to shift back into my human form and wrap Neil in a fierce, heartfelt embrace. Every fiber of my being longed to close the distance between us, to express the affection swelling uncontrollably inside me.
But reason swiftly pulled me back from the tempting fantasy. The thought of the surveillance camera hidden in the room snapped me out of it instantly. Ken Yimo’s watchful eyes were everywhere—his control stretched into every corner, and I couldn't afford to be reckless.
This secret, my true identity, had to
I quickly sent a message to Ethan, informing him about the multitude of surveillance cameras in the castle and requesting that he take action to swap out the cameras in Neil's bedroom and bathroom. Within moments, Ethan replied, assuring me that he would get right on it. He also asked if I needed any further assistance.I told him that for now, I didn’t require anything additional—just to ensure that the surveillance in those two crucial places wouldn't expose my movements.His swift response reassured me. I felt a sense of camaraderie, knowing that I had someone I could rely on to help dismantle the oppressive monitoring Ken Yimo had set up. Together, we could create a safer environment for Neil, and I was determined to do whatever it took to protect him from the unseen dangers lurking within the castle walls.Next, I quickly logged into our group chat to update everyone on my recent findings. I detailed the
Even so, I couldn’t wait to open the first video file that Ethan had sent. The footage began with the day Neil moved into the castle. He appeared visibly anxious, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his shirt, as if feeling somewhat constrained by the unfamiliar surroundings. Beside him stood Ken Yimo, who looked exceedingly gentle, his gaze soft as he watched Neil, seemingly trying to ease his discomfort.I saw Ken Yimo slowly extend his hand, gently patting Neil on the shoulder, and in a deep, reassuring voice, he said, "From now on, you are Neil Yimo."That single phrase seemed to carry an invisible weight, causing Neil in the video to visibly pause. He furrowed his brows, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice as he asked, "Why can't it be Randolph?" His tone was carefully innocent, devoid of any hostility or challenge. It was clear to me that Neil held a deep attachment to his original surname—an identity he h
The next scene nearly took my breath away. Ken Yimo advanced his invasion, slowly removing Neil's clothing, each layer stripped away felt like it was robbing him of his last shred of dignity. The devil's voice dripped with seduction and manipulation: "Don't be afraid; this is how Daddy loves you. Can you let Daddy love you? And can you love Daddy?" Neil helplessly gripped the bedsheets, his hands taut and pale, yet he still managed to nod slightly. At that moment, I could no longer bear to watch. I quickly pressed the pause button, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. But just seconds later, my fingers trembled as I couldn't resist sliding the video forward again.The sounds that followed shattered my sanity. Neil’s pleas, choked and trembling, echoed through the video as he begged, “Daddy... please...” His voice shifted from a quiver to a hoarse whisper, ultimately exhausted of strength, while Ken Yimo showed
I nodded emphatically, striving to soften my tone. “It’s me, I won’t hurt you. Let’s take our time to talk, alright? But right now, you’re completely soaked; you need to change into something dry, or you might catch a cold.” I made every effort to appear gentle and trustworthy, fearing that I might frighten him even more.Neil paused for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Okay.”He attempted to stand up to adjust his clothes, and I quickly reached out to support him. “Be careful, don’t slip! I’ll go grab you some clothes. Just take off your wet ones, okay?” He responded with a soft “Mm,” and began to undo the buttons of his nightgown. I turned to leave, my chest feeling slightly tight, as if the echoes of the earlier panic still lingered.When I returned to the bathroom holding a set of clean clothes, the sight before me made my heart skip a
Neil tilted his head slightly, a look of confusion crossing his face, before gently shaking his head. The motion was slow, as if he were trying to convince himself that he truly couldn’t remember. His eyes were clean and hollow, as if not remembering didn’t strike him as strange at all. A sense of dread washed over me. My instincts told me this wasn’t ordinary amnesia; the boy must have been sleepwalking.“Have you ever experienced anything like this before?” I asked cautiously. “For instance, have you woken up in an unfamiliar place, or found yourself soaked like just now, or encountered any other strange occurrences?”Neil pondered for a moment, as if he were trying to recall something, then spoke slowly: “When I was in the Randolph house, I used to sleep on a cardboard box in the storage room, but sometimes I’d wake up on the living room floor. Dad, Mom, and Nelson said I have such a p
I looked down at his peaceful sleeping face, my heart a mix of emotions—both aching and helpless. This kid, at an age when he should be cherished and cared for, had clearly not received the love he deserved. I sighed and ultimately chose not to resist, leaning back against the headboard. If he needed this kind of companionship, then I would provide it for him.Since I couldn't break free from the moment, I reached for my phone with one hand, searching for Ethan's contact information. There were some things I needed to clarify quickly. Neil's sleepwalking situation filled me with unease, and I couldn’t just sit idly by.Shortly after I sent the message, Ethan replied. His tone carried a hint of guilt: “I’m sorry, I didn’t pay much attention to the content after he falls asleep, so I didn’t check closely and missed the fact that Neil was sleepwalking.” His words were laced with a deep sense of remorse.
To my surprise, Neil pouted in protest. “It’s not like I haven’t seen it before!” he objected.“Huh? Seen what?” I was taken aback, not quite following.With a perfectly serious expression, Neil replied, “When Ryan is in little wolfdog form, you don’t wear any clothes.”I paused, startled, then couldn’t help but burst into laughter. This kid was so pure, so completely innocent—he genuinely saw nothing odd about it at all.I put on a mock-offended look, clutching my chest as if deeply wounded. "So… you’ve seen everything then, haven’t you?" I said, feigning a dramatic sense of betrayal.Seeing my exaggerated expression, Neil couldn’t hold back and finally burst out laughing. His smile bloomed like flowers in spring, lighting up the whole room and warming it with his joy.I narrowed my eyes playfully and pointed a finger at him. “Oh, you’re laughing now? You kn
Neil was momentarily taken aback, his throat shifting slightly as he unconsciously swallowed, then honestly replied, “It’s attractive.”His genuine reaction made me chuckle with delight, a hint of triumph in my laughter. “That’s what wild beauty is! Your painting completely missed the mark.”Clearly a bit flustered, Neil spoke softly, “Should I try painting another one? But…” His voice trailed off, suddenly filled with hesitation.“What do you mean, ‘but’?” I raised an eyebrow, leaning in just a little closer.He pressed his lips together, as if summoning immense courage, and spoke with a hint of shyness, “I don’t want Harry and Peter to see it.”I paused for a moment, then it clicked. He didn’t want to paint this picture for others to share; he wanted to keep it for himself. A wave of mixed emotions washed over me—part amusement, part pride, and an indescribable sweetness that f
Three days later, on a bright and sunny day, the warm light bathed the earth, as if even the sun was adding a touch of radiance to our wedding. The venue was set up like a dream—white flowers adorned every corner, and the air was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance, as though each petal had been carefully chosen just for us. The guests had all arrived, their faces lit with brilliant smiles, their eyes brimming with blessings and hope. In that moment, all the exhaustion and pain seemed to be forgotten, replaced by nothing but boundless joy and warmth.This day belonged to us three couples, the happiest day of our lives. Neil and I, Peter and Nick, Harry and Nelson—standing together, it felt as if fate had already woven an invisible thread, tying us all together. Each of our faces radiated joy, our eyes filled with love and devotion for one another. Just before the ceremony began, I stole a glance at Neil standing beside me. His eyes sparkled softly, filled with warmth and unwavering d
Ethan continued to describe that miraculous moment: "When Neil's blood entered your body, everything changed dramatically. At first, nothing seemed unusual, but soon, the operating room was filled with dazzling light. Countless beams of light intertwined in the air, and the entire hospital was suddenly powered down, as if a mysterious force had illuminated it. Everyone was startled, and you, it seemed, experienced some kind of extraordinary transformation in that instant." There was a calmness in Ethan’s eyes. "Then, the situation settled. Power was restored, the readings on the instruments returned to normal, and your arm miraculously reconnected, fully healed. The symptoms of blood loss vanished in an instant, as though nothing had ever happened."I murmured, "If this is true, then what the Black Wolf said in the virtual world must also be correct. It claimed the calamity has been averted, the curse is broken." The Black Wolf had told me that these changes signified that the crisis
Everything went black, and I was suddenly jolted back to reality. The chaotic scene of battle unfolded around me—Kim and Peter had been knocked to the ground by the vengeful spirits, and Maria was visibly struggling, her strength fading. I looked around in shock, my heart heavy with realization. All of this suffering, all of this fighting—it was because of the decision I had made. I had refused to let go of Neil, going to any lengths to bring him back to life. But in doing so, I had led us into an endless cycle of calamity, and even Neil had been forced to endure so much pain. Perhaps the root of all this, the key to ending it, lay within myself.Slowly, I rose to my feet, a sense of clarity settling over me as I began to understand the true meaning of goodness. It was selfless letting go—it was the willingness to forsake oneself for the sake of others.I took a deep breath, releasing all my obsessions, letting go of the desire to fight for selfish reasons or love. I would fight now,
Ken Yimo raised his hand high, summoning the fragile thread of magic he could barely muster, and hurled it toward the demon with all the strength he had left. Though his magical abilities were far from impressive, his gaze was resolute, unwavering in the face of death. The demon, however, merely smiled faintly, effortlessly neutralizing Ken's attack. The vast disparity in power sent Ken crashing to the ground, his body feeling as fragile as an ant under the weight of the demon’s overwhelming force.But just as Ken fell, something in Fred's heart shifted. He could no longer bear to watch this crumbling scene unfold. Tears welled in his eyes as he screamed in desperate anguish, his voice cracking with raw emotion, “Ken, no! Don’t sacrifice yourself for me! I’m not worth it!” His words were soaked in sorrow and despair, filled with regret—as if all his anger and jealousy had now melted away into nothing but remorse.Ken Yimo struggled painfully to rise from the ground, blood and bruises
Nick forced himself to put on a defiant expression and coldly said, "Who's afraid?" But I could see a flash of fragile fear in his eyes, and my heart ached even more. Nelson had just recovered, his face pale, his body swaying slightly. Upon hearing Harry's call, he struggled to lift his head, his eyes still filled with trust and dependence on Harry. He parted his lips weakly and whispered, "Harry..." His voice was so faint, it seemed like it could vanish into the air at any moment. Neil, the most sensitive of the three, looked at us with fear in his eyes. But he didn't cry out for help; instead, he anxiously glanced at Nelson, as if silently urging us to take care of the more fragile brother first.Facing the scene before me, a surge of anger filled my chest, and I coldly demanded to know what Fred wanted. Fred stood in the shadows, his gaze as cold as ice. He gave a faint smile, revealing a sickly, cruel satisfaction. "It's simple," he said, his voice low but carrying an undeniable o
Meanwhile, the others had scattered, continuing their search for any trace of Neil, their faces grim with concern. The tension in the air was thick, and every passing second felt like we were hurtling toward something far darker than we had anticipated.As everyone scrambled in panic, Maria suddenly called out, "There's a trace of magic here!" Her voice was tinged with urgency and surprise, clearly indicating that she had discovered something unusual. We hurried over to find her standing at the entrance of Ken Yimo's bedroom, eyes closed in concentration, her hands moving gently through the air as though she were carefully unraveling an invisible barrier. Soon, the tips of her fingers began to glow faintly, as if she had torn through a thin veil. In that instant, the magical barrier dissolved, and everything behind the door came into view, causing me to gasp in shock.Inside the bedroom, Ken Yimo lay on the cold floor, his face ashen, as though he had endured some immense shock. Scatt
"It turns out that Ken's coldness stems from such a painful past," I murmured softly, a deep, indescribable sorrow washing over me. The suffering Ken had endured was far beyond our comprehension. No wonder he kept everyone at arm's length, as if wrapped in a hard shell to shield himself."What's even more tragic is that our 'old-fashioned' people, upon learning about Ken's sexual orientation, grew even more hostile toward him. They have no idea that his sexuality was, for the most part, twisted by that monstrous foster father of his," Maria sighed, her eyes filled with profound sympathy and understanding for Ken. She shook her head, adding, "They ostracized him, yet they have no clue what kind of pain he went through."I couldn't help but ask, "What happened after that? What did Ken go through?"Maria gently shook her head, a shadow of sorrow crossing her face. "He left our place. By the time I found him, that beast of a foster father had gathered thirty or forty people, trying to for
Ken Yimo chuckled gently, the smile on his face tinged with a trace of self-mockery, as if he had already come to terms with his fate. "For me, Neil’s safety is the most important thing. As long as he can get away from here, away from all this conflict, I fear nothing."His words were firm and tender, that kind of selfless, fatherly love stirring something deep within me. I clenched my fists in silent resolve, taking a deep breath. "Alright, Ken. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to take Neil away. I won’t let him come to any harm. I swear, I will protect him with everything I have."A flicker of gratitude passed through Ken Yimo's eyes as he nodded slightly. "I know you will, Ryan. Your care for Neil, your dedication to him—it's something even I deeply admire. He’s a child who deserves love and protection... Please continue to show him kindness, and give him the warmth he truly needs."His words struck a chord deep within me. I had planned to turn and leave, to end this
Ken Yimo nodded slightly, his expression laced with a complex mixture of emotions. “Yes. Fred knows he’s nothing more than a replacement. But he... he’s different. Despite everything, he still desperately seeks my attention. He doesn’t mind being my servant, if it means he can be close to me.”"A child with ambition," I murmured to myself, trying to grasp the psychological dynamics at play in such a twisted situation.A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Ken Yimo's lips. "Do you think Fred acts out so recklessly, causing chaos everywhere, even disregarding the reputation of the Yimo family? What do you think he’s trying to achieve?"I furrowed my brows, pondering for a moment, before the realization dawned on me. "Could it be... that he's doing it just to get your attention? He’s deliberately being reckless, making sure everyone knows."Ken Yimo nodded, his tone unnervingly calm. "Exactly. He knows that by antagonizing people, the Yimo family will inevitably be ostracized. But what