Seeing the adorable expression on Neil's face, I couldn't help but ask, "Neil, is there anything else you've always wanted to do? We can make it happen together." I was eager to know his dreams, his deepest desires, so I could do everything in my power to fulfill them.Neil thought for a moment, a hint of shyness in his voice as he replied, "I've always wanted to travel to a faraway place, to see different landscapes, experience different cultures. But I've never had the chance..."Hearing this, I gently cupped his face in my hands and said earnestly, "We'll go together, no matter how far. I'll be by your side." Tears glistened in Neil's eyes as a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He was so overwhelmed with happiness that words seemed to escape him.Because of my impatience, we decided to hold the wedding just a week later. As the day drew closer, our lives became increasingly hectic. Although Ethan, Harry, Lisa, and Peter had initially tried to dissuade me, they eventually cho
A few minutes later, we finally managed to get in touch with Maria. Everyone gathered around the television in the living room as her familiar face appeared on the screen. Her expression was tense, clearly understanding the gravity of the situation. As the video call began, the room was filled with an intense atmosphere; no one dared to breathe as we awaited Maria's guidance. Her presence felt like an anchor, slightly easing the anxiety and fear that had been gripping our hearts. Maria's voice came through the screen, carrying a weight of seriousness: "Ethan, tell me everything. I need to know every detail."Ethan wasted no time in recounting the entire situation to Maria, detailing everything from Neil's sudden disappearance to our fruitless search within the castle. His voice was steady and calm, as if narrating a battle whose outcome had already been decided. Yet, we all knew deep down that the outcome of this battle was far from certain. As Maria listened to Ethan's account, her e
When Harry and Peter heard Neil's voice, they immediately asked with palpable urgency, “Neil, where are you? Are you okay? Did she hurt you?” Their voices were filled with anxiety and concern, as if just hearing Neil’s response would empower them to rush over and rescue him from Yolanda's clutches. However, Neil’s reply only deepened their heartache. His voice trembled with a hint of tears, and although he tried to sound brave, the strain and helplessness in his tone were unmistakable: “I… I’m okay… I’m fine.” But that faint, quivering voice, laden with unspoken pain, made each of us clench our fists in silent rage, a helpless fury burning within our hearts.Even Maria, who had been watching intently through the video call, couldn’t hold back any longer. Her voice, laced with both fury and a chilling threat, cut through the tension in the room: “Yolanda, you’d better not harm Neil in any way.” There was a deep loathing in her tone, a clear warning underscored by the knowledge of just
As soon as Harry finished speaking, a palpable force seemed to grip the room, leaving everyone in a state of stunned realization. The expressions on each face revealed a sudden clarity, as if the pieces of a complex puzzle had just fallen into place. Harry’s insight dispelled the doubts and confusion that had clouded our minds, connecting everything into a coherent narrative. Yolanda’s plan wasn’t merely about a battle of strength; it was a calculated assault on our psychological vulnerabilities. By targeting what we held most dear, she aimed to manipulate our decisions and actions. Neil, though unsuited for combat, had become Yolanda’s most lethal pawn precisely because of his fragility.My thoughts began to drift back to the moment when Yolanda and Neil first crossed paths. I remembered how Neil, in a desperate attempt to defend himself, had used a magic potion that ended up wounding Yolanda. At that moment, Yolanda had been closing in on Neil, her eyes gleaming with malice, as if s
Ethan immediately shook his head, dismissing the idea: "No, that's out of the question. The evil spirit is far too dangerous—we can't take the risk of activating the magic box first. The consequences would be catastrophic." His tone was firm, carrying a clear warning rooted in reason. It was evident that this plan was far too reckless to consider. Lisa added, “We have no solid evidence or precedent to guide us on the possibility of trapping the evil spirit in an animal or corpse either. If it fails, the consequences could be disastrous. And as for trying to lock it in Yolanda, she’d likely retaliate with dark magic before the spirit even takes hold, and could easily transfer it to someone else. Yolanda would never allow herself to be cornered like that.” Her analysis made the plan seem even more perilous and impractical, leaving us with little hope of its success.Peter's sigh hung heavy in the room, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "It seems like, in the end, we're left
Yolanda looked at me, a mocking smile curling at the corners of her lips. "You're quite the romantic, aren't you?" she sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "Emotions are meaningless. People like you, who are so consumed by them, are the weakest." Her words struck me like a cold, heavy stone pressing down on my chest, making my heart sink with the weight of her contempt.Harry couldn't hold back any longer. He lashed out, his voice thick with anger and disdain. "That's something only someone as heartless as you would say!" His words cut through the tense atmosphere, carrying the weight of a final judgment against Yolanda's twisted sense of humanity. His defiance was a stark contrast to her cold indifference, a reminder that no matter how powerful she was, there were still things she could never understand or possess.Yolanda's reaction was chilling. Instead of anger, she burst into laughter, a sound that echoed eerily through the empty room, tinged with madness. "Heartless?" she s
But Yolanda caught wind of it, her sneering laughter cutting through the air as if she had anticipated our reaction all along. "Did you really think I wouldn’t know the magician’s box was in your possession?" she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "It was the River family who reached out to us. They claimed they overheard your conversations in the villa, plotting against us. You know what they say—‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ They even invited us to your villa. The moment I stepped inside, I could sense the presence of the magician’s box." Her words flowed as if she were recounting the most ordinary of events, but each syllable struck us like a heavy blow to the heart.We exchanged uneasy glances, our hearts gripped by shock and fear. Ethan and Lisa locked eyes, a shared but unspoken understanding passing between them, heavy with complex emotions. Yolanda's revelation had caught us off guard, especially the speed and precision with which she had detected the magician’s bo
Yolanda's eyes flickered with a hint of disdain as she glanced up at Kim, her gaze filled with scorn. “Ha, a mere human overestimating himself,” she sneered, her voice dripping with cold mockery, as if Kim was nothing more than a pawn in her game, utterly harmless and insignificant. Her arrogance and condescension thickened the air in the room, tightening the tension to the point where it felt like an uncontrollable conflict could erupt at any moment.However, Kim remained unfazed by her words, merely offering a slight smile, a serene calmness radiating from him. “Not as powerless as you think,” he replied, his tone laced with subtle irony and a hint of triumph. “At least my headaches are gone.” His voice was devoid of unnecessary emotion, as if he were stating a trivial fact, yet his words struck like a heavy blow, landing squarely on Yolanda’s ego.Yolanda’s face turned ashen in an instant, her eyes filled with disbelief and shock. “Impossible!” she nearly screamed, her voice tinged