ile still wrapped in his infant blanket

less stranger appeared and

go like a ghost, teaching Kayce the ancient wa

orphanage and started drifting from

teen, he had started trav

tion, gathering wealth and influence that stretched its fingers into every corn

devastating wounds and fled back to his homeland, seeking his mentor's aid. Instead,

to life but awoke wit

dow for two long years, enduring s

pieces finally snap

stray-he had once stood at the

in bed and li

seeped through the slight opening of

ed inside. Her face, though stunning, carried

ce, though Leyla's softer features still had the innoc

life. In the past two years, she had gone completely

the first to offer comfort. Any small tr

asked softly, "What tipped

r smile playful. "Easy. I follo

ed, she leaned in, her face filled w

handle," Kayce

ably. "Kevin's such a jerk! W

eared on Kayce's face. "Ac

a tilted her h

st wait a bit longer, Leyla. I'll

know you will. One day you'll have

phone burst in

shouted angrily, "Leyla! Tell that worthless bum to drag

ebastian, who hung up b

aid, "Don't leave this house or go near the ki

door before she

ght drunks, Kayce grew worried for Rosalyn's safety.

s Kayce sat quietly in the back sea

ris household over the past year, he had still foun

that, he had

pires, with everything he could possibly want, no

er, there was no chan

lf, willing to stay as the unwanted son-in-la

d confront the shadows behin

e arrived at the barbecue stall t

sly. "Where's the tr

"Cut the nonsense. If I hadn't made something up, you'd still be slee

ile, Kayce could o

h night cleaning and ser

earlier, he would have already

overflowing with dirty dishes. "Those plates won

how badly he was hurt, but Kayce had

scrubbing the plates. Every now and then, he stole a gl

n tight jeans, heels clicking rhythmicall

oad, yet none had ever managed to leave a lasting

turned toward him, he

him, Rosalyn asked,

lier, Rosalyn had desperately wan

it, threatening to cause a scene, leavin

r, "It's nothing serious.

ment, his heart w

mattered more than every

the barbecue stall with a group of flash

uddy, Matthew. He's someone with

w said, "If there's ever a

gaze swept over Rosalyn

ght frown and turn

et your friends seated. Order

together and waved for hi

atthew, she decided not to openly

u, she politely asked, "Have you

d boldly, grabbing Rosalyn around the waist, h

ngrily, smacking him across the face with t

on while slicing vegetables,

io had become frighteningly

Matthew's eyes. "You be

ar him pushed back their chair

a barely made it a few steps before M

ervous chuckle. "Come on, Matthew.

ce. "Do you really believe your words matter? If you hadn't

"Get over here and drink with me. Otherwise,

tched his cheek, too scare

. "You guys better leave no

?" Matthe

ave Rosalyn alone. You and your friends ar

ismissively, reaching aggressi