Lucy had already set the table.
As I changed into a t-shirt and shorts, I could hear the inaudible murmur of voices from the kitchen.
When I returned, Ash was seated, watching Lucy move with an ease that felt almost deliberate—graceful, but sharp, like a commander.
I didn’t want to interfere, so I crouched in the passage, peeking in only when their words paused.
She must’ve felt his gaze, because her eyes flicked briefly toward him—just long enough to catch the faint, unnatural glow in his own.
“So,” she asked, tone light but cool, “what brings you here?”
“I got promoted,” Ash said with a grin. “I’m applying for the trial as a Crownguard.”
“Oh—your dream, after all.” Her tone was even, almost detached as she poured coffee into his mug. “From maintaining law as a social officer… to cleaning the Crown’s dirty work. Congratulations.”
“So how are things with you?” Ash questioned.
“Oh, the usual. Work, home… just living the way I’m supposed to, I guess,” Lucy replied, arranging the table.
As she leaned forward, Ash placed his hand over hers. His face flushed—and so did hers.
“And now,” he said softly, “I’ll be able to spend more time with my family. More time with you. I’ll have my dream… and a chance for us to make things work out—for the both of us.”
My stomach twisted. What the hell—this is dinner, not a time to flirt.
My head spun as they stared at each other, locked in a gaze that felt far too private for me to witness.
Lucy’s lips curved faintly, but her voice cut like a blade as she pulled her hand free.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffSzAGwCu3
“Heh. A wannabe family man—and a slave to the Crown. Good excuse. Now you can end lives in style, with just a flick of your finger, and enjoy meals as if nothing happened.”
She mimed a careless flick, dripping sarcasm.
Ash ignored it. His eyes shifted to his mug.
“Well, once Hugo gets into the military, he can wear the same uniform as me. We could work together—how cool is that? And I could supervise him.”
“Not a chance,” Lucy said flatly.
“Come on, Lucyyy,” Ash pressed, his tone edging sharp. “I’m giving you a heads-up. He needs to join the military.”
“Hugo should stay out of it. I won’t let him become a criminal in the name of justice. That’s what happened to Mother and Father.”
Ash’s voice hardened. “So I don’t get a say? I’m worried because we’re the only ones left. You think I’m in this neighborhood, in this life, FOR FUN? No, because of my duty to the capital. Do you get that?”
“Hah.” Lucy scoffed. “Funny how proud you are of it, Mr. Paradysian,”29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4sdQs4OV1
“Keep it up. I’m sure Father would be proud to see you climbing a cult’s ladder with honors and medals.”
His jaw tightened. “And what are you gonna do? Protect him forever? There aren’t many ways to survive.”
“So becoming the same murderers that killed our parents is the right way?” Lucy’s voice rose, sharp and hot.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXnJ249uNL
“Don’t forget—it was my father who took you in. He brought you home.”
“Yes, I was an orphan,” Ash said, voice rising. “And yes, he raised me. That’s why I’m grateful. That’s how I fell in love with you… and with this capital. He supported my dream of becoming a soldier here. But they violated the law, and that’s how they ended up. And Father was proud of what I wanted to become. So I don’t care what you think.”
“HE’S NOT YOUR FATHER.”
Lucy’s voice dropped, low and heavy, rattling the air like distant thunder. Her eyes widened in realization as she clutched her head.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSviIzjVxo
“I’m sorry, I'm sorry, I didn’t mean it.”
Ash inhaled slowly, his anger cooling into something quieter—colder. “You’re right,” he said at last. “I’m not a Gharib like you both. But he still raised me as his own.” He straightened, his gaze sharpening like steel. “So tell me, Lucy… what happened in the clinic?”
I leaned forward from the passageway, curiosity clawing at my chest. What’s going on? Is it about that letter?
Her lips trembled. Her head lowered.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8jXkw4kIM
“Do I have to spill everything when you already know the answer?”
“Lucy… don’t tell me,” Ash pressed, frustration leaking into his tone.
“You made the rules—you said we should keep things on hold for now. So that’s what I did.”
“Come on, Lucy. Let me help. I’ll make sure you don't have to undergo ‘The Cure.’ I can’t lose you, too—not if they take you inside the—”
The Cure? It sounds like a normal treatment. So why did he say it like that?
The sharp smash of porcelain cut him off. Lucy had slammed the coffee cup down, irritation flashing in her eyes.
“No—you can’t. You’ll lose your career if you impede with the capital’s orders.”
Ash's eyes shimmered in frustration.
“All I’m trying to do is help us out, and you just shove it right back in my face. And if you’re suffering from what I want… then maybe we should break up for all I care. But I’ll still take care of Hugo, because he’s also my brother—whether you like it or not.”
Her voice lightened, but only slightly.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6brPVyOhua
“Whatever may happen to you or me… just don’t feed poison into my little Hugo. Let him choose his own way—away from fighting and bloodshed.”
Ash pushed his bowl aside and stood.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQIK7SArkQ
“Do as you please. He’ll suffer in your little dream. No one will treat him well—except you… and me. We can’t flee from this never-ending war.”
Ash walked away, upstairs without a word, like none of it mattered. Not the soup, not the meal, not me crouched beside on the passage or Lucy sitting at the table.
Lucy’s eyes followed him, worry painted on her face as she sat down. She turned to me, forcing a smile.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6QJ1tSRQ3
“Hugo, I know you’re there. You can come out now.”
“Busted,” I muttered under my breath as I stepped in.
“Sorry for all this, Hugo. I know you wanted a proper family dinner. This… this is the best I could manage.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I blurted. “It’s okay.”
Suddenly—
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK
Three sharp knocks. Clean. Disciplined.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uzygNmxja
The kind that didn’t belong in our part of town. No one visited this late. No one knocked like that.
Lucy took one final sip.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURAovuU5jk
“Looks like my time has come sooner than expected,” she murmured.
I stood and walked toward the door, glancing back as she quietly set down her mug.
When I opened it, a tall figure filled the frame. Straight blond hair, athletic build, and a gray military uniform that almost glowed under the porch light. At his right arm rested an ARH gear—Accurate Revolver Hit—the weapon only the chosen carried.
He wasn’t just a soldier. He was a Crownguard—one of those who answered directly to The Crown. Directly to the capital itself.
Flanking him were two women in green clinical uniforms—caretakers assigned to escort patients out of their homes, under Crownguard authority, into the Elders’ Home.
“Yoo, shawty,” he drawled with a grin, that same thug-like tone dripping with fake charm.
“Ah—it’s Freddy,” I said. I recognized him—Ash’s senior, childhood friend.
“Lemme go call Ash—”
“It’s Captain Frederick now, or you could actually call me Captain Freddy, short and sweet,” he interrupted.
“And actually… I’m not looking for Ash.”
He blinked. “Wait. Didn’t my gorgeous Lucy—tell you—?”
Before he could finish, Lucy stepped into the doorway. She didn’t say a word. Just tossed a small canvas bag toward Frederick, who caught it midair.
“Here. Gimme a second,” she said calmly.
Frederick’s smirk faded, replaced by something hesitant. Respectful.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eleUnuzHS
“Uh… yeah. Sure.”
I turned to her.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSowJMwRfYY
“Lucy, what’s going on?”
She slipped on her purple blazer, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
She hesitated, then exhaled.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf2krDAuMV
“My blood samples came back from the clinic. I tested positive for Paradosium. I’ll be quarantined at the Elder’s home for some time...”
The word hit like ice.
I thought back to earlier that day—her standing outside the clinic, staring at the wall. I should’ve known.
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s not possible. You always eat healthy. You live balanced—”
“Life isn’t always fair, Hugo.” Lucy’s voice was soft, steady.
I planted myself in front of Freddy like a bird spreading its wings to shield the nest. “I won’t let you take her.”
Lucy calmed the situation like a caring parent.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYfNGTwCmh
She placed her hand on my shoulder—light, steady. She gave me a soft, sorrowful smile and shook her head.
“No, Hugo. Don’t make this harder than it already is. Take care of everything. Be whatever you want to be—but more than anything, I want you to become a responsible, decent man. That’s all I ask of you.”
Her eyes shimmered, her smile trembling but warm. The smile that came at the end of a long journey.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyjW6q1aJR
“Before you decide to walk in the dark, learn to light a candle. And it’s okay to run… when you don’t yet understand. That’s your first lesson in becoming a grown-up. I am so proud of you. Mommy’s little angel.”
Then she pulled me into a long embrace—one of those hugs that says everything words can’t. I held on tighter than I should have.
“I hope you’ll have an answer by then, when the time comes,” she whispered. “But for now… Ash will take care of you for the time being.”
“Goodbye, Hugo.”
And just like that, she turned and walked away.
Frederick and the guards moved quietly, respectfully. No one said a word as they escorted her down the road—toward the Elder’s Home. Her figure grew smaller with each step.
She never looked back.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn9gBHwK02
She didn’t need to.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunXFpLbEmC
She had already said everything she needed to.
Then, from the staircase behind us, a voice rang out.
“LUCY!”
It was Ash. His voice cracked.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqunRmtMqbP
“I’ll Fix This—I’ll Fix Everything. I’ll come and save you!”
She paused mid-step, just for a moment.
Then, without turning, she called out:29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPDO561g24
“Just keep Hugo away from this, that's all I ask of you.”
“I’ll see you later, Shawties!” Freddy added with a wave, trying to lighten the heavy air.
And then she walked on.
And all we could do… was watch.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MAJvlIIyk
With guilt.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwj9M7osK9
With concern.29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTcIqziZBy
With silence.
29Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXHH2hA74K
and then Add to home screen.