After Mr. Tan Woo finished speaking, the house fell into a heavy, echoing silence. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his thumb against his temple, avoiding their eyes. Deep inside he knew his explanation hadn't been strong enough, so he continued, his voice trembling with fatigue and grief.
"A sacrifice… the one she made was powerful, dangerous. Before she died, children under twelve were disappearing. I didn't believe the rumors… not until my child—my first and last—vanished."
His voice cracked. "He had just celebrated his twelfth birthday—just like today. He was so happy that day. He wished to live forever. If I had known it was his last… I would have hidden him, protected him, kept him far from that monster. But what else could I have done? Now I only want peace—for my soul and for his."
Tears shimmered in the corners of his eyes before he wiped them away. Everyone could see that his pain was deeper than anything words could describe. He took a long sip from his glass, then let his body fall heavily onto the couch, exhaustion dragging him instantly into sleep. His loud snoring startled them; for a moment, they had thought he was preparing to speak again.
Drew peeked through the window but saw nothing.
"I'm not going out alone," Luca muttered, dropping onto the couch. "I'll rest until he wakes up."
One by one, they settled down. Linet curled onto the mattress on the floor, sleep quickly overtaking her as fear haunted her thoughts.
Lyn watched her little brother, gently brushing her fingers across his soft cheek. A quiet chuckle escaped her lips—brief, fragile—before tears followed. Memories of her parents flooded in, warm and painful all at once.
"Mama… Papa… I miss you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. I didn't appreciate you the way I should have. I should've protected you. I should've been better. I'll protect Luca. I'll protect everyone. I promise."
"Stop," Alex murmured softly, brushing her swollen cheek with his thumb. "You're going to make me cry too."
She let out a light, breathless laugh. "You? Cry? Impossible."
"I mourn too," he said quietly. "Just not as loudly as you."
He nudged her gently. "If your papa were here, he'd scold you for crying this much."
"Alex!"
"What? I'm trying to make you smile. I don't want to die before seeing it."
Her heart tightened. "Don't say that. If something takes you, I'm going with you. I'm not losing anyone else without fighting."
Her sudden seriousness startled him. He stared at her, then a small laugh slipped out—soft, warm. He moved a little closer.
"I'm glad to hear that," he whispered. "Those brave words… I hope you'll keep them."
"I will," she said. "I'm not backing down."
He hesitated, eyes searching hers. "Lyn… if anything happens to me, take care of my sister. Linet. She's all I have left."
Lyn froze. "Linet? She's your sister?"
He nodded. "We kept it secret… but I trust you. Please. Protect her. Support her."
"I promise," she said gently. "With all my heart, I—"
Her words dissolved when he leaned in and pressed his lips softly against hers.
The world fell silent.
Her breath caught, not out of fear but from the warmth blooming inside her chest. She had been pushing away her feelings for so long, yet every time she looked at him she felt herself pulled closer. His hand rested against her cheek, tender and steady, as though he had been waiting forever for this moment.
"I like you, Lyn," he whispered against her lips, voice trembling with honesty. "From the first day we met. You never gave me the chance to tell you."
Her reply came not in words but in the way she leaned into him, the way her fingers curled into his sleeve. His lips brushed hers again—gentle, patient, reverent—full of the affection he had kept hidden for so long.