- 12 hours ago
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00:00:00The incubus I bought hates me.
00:00:04He bites me, calls me ugly, runs away at every chance.
00:00:10So I sold my house and bought his brother instead.
00:00:15Milo is the younger twin with a perfect body but zero affection.
00:00:21Ezra is the older one, gentle, with a limp.
00:00:25I took them both into a basement.
00:00:31Master, sleeping here is enough.
00:00:35Milo said,
00:00:37If there's not enough room, why don't you leave?
00:00:41I replied.
00:00:44One of them froze as his eyes turned red.
00:00:50You only want my brother now?
00:00:52The incubus I kept was disobedient and bit me again.
00:00:58When I got up to wash this morning, I found that the bite mark on my neck had turned a
00:01:03conspicuous purplish red.
00:01:08It hurt at the slightest touch.
00:01:12I tried to tell myself not to mind it, that it would heal in a few days.
00:01:18But walking into the bathroom and looking up at such an ordinary, plain face in the mirror, I still couldn't
00:01:24help but tear up.
00:01:27Milo despised me.
00:01:29Despised everything about me.
00:01:31My looks, my voice.
00:01:34He even utterly loathed this old house I lived in.
00:01:39We fought last night.
00:01:41He was furious.
00:01:43And in the heat of our argument, he told the truth.
00:01:48Master, it was you who insisted on spending all your savings to buy me.
00:01:58I didn't leave with you willingly.
00:02:05If I had a choice,
00:02:08I would never accept you as my master and squeeze into this god-fistaking dump with you.
00:02:14Then after this past year with me,
00:02:16up until now,
00:02:19do you really have no feelings for me at all?
00:02:23I pressed on, refusing to give up.
00:02:26No.
00:02:28None at all.
00:02:29The man was tied to the headboard, unable to move.
00:02:33But his gaze remained sharp, his answer resolute.
00:02:37The last shred of hope I held onto was completely shattered.
00:02:42I washed my face, took a deep breath,
00:02:44and wiped away the tears threatening to fall.
00:02:48Then I took the liquid foundation from the counter,
00:02:51carefully pumped out a drop,
00:02:53and covered the mark on my neck.
00:02:56Milo was still tied up in my bedroom.
00:03:00Before going to work, I planned to untie him.
00:03:04Pushing the door open,
00:03:06the man was quietly huddled on the carpet.
00:03:09Head lowered,
00:03:10his long eyelashes trembling,
00:03:12slightly probably pretending to be asleep.
00:03:15I approached,
00:03:16crouched down,
00:03:17and began untying the slipknot around his wrists.
00:03:21Milo.
00:03:21The man refused to acknowledge me,
00:03:24keeping his eyes tightly shut.
00:03:27I'm going to work.
00:03:29I'll untie you,
00:03:30but you promised to be good
00:03:31and wait at home for me to come back.
00:03:34If you don't want to untie me,
00:03:36just say so.
00:03:37I gave a helpless,
00:03:39wry smile and immediately let him go.
00:03:42The man didn't seem to process it,
00:03:44his alluring eyes staring blankly at me.
00:03:47You really untied me?
00:03:49I never promised to wait for you at home.
00:03:52He used to run away all the time.
00:03:55But with his contract in my hands,
00:03:57he couldn't get far.
00:03:58It was just a hassle searching the whole world for him every time.
00:04:02So I tied him up to save trouble.
00:04:05I nodded,
00:04:06compromising out of sheer exhaustion.
00:04:09Yeah,
00:04:10just remember to take the house keys with you.
00:04:17I bought Milo at the black market last winter.
00:04:20There was no special reason for it.
00:04:23I just thought he was good looking tall,
00:04:26with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
00:04:28He had a great figure.
00:04:30At the time,
00:04:31I actually had my eye on his brother,
00:04:33Ezra too.
00:04:36They were twins and looked almost identical.
00:04:39The only difference was that Milo was able-bodied,
00:04:42while Ezra had a slight limp in his left foot.
00:04:47But all my savings were only enough to choose one of them.
00:04:51Figuring that buying an incubus meant having someone by my side forever,
00:04:55I didn't cheap out and bought the most expensive one.
00:04:59But a year had passed,
00:05:00and my dull, monotonous life hadn't gotten any happier.
00:05:05Instead,
00:05:06it only brought me a lot more trouble.
00:05:09Thinking about it now,
00:05:10I felt a pang of regret.
00:05:12If I had chosen Ezra,
00:05:14would things be different?
00:05:17But that shady shop had a strict,
00:05:19no returns or exchanges policy.
00:05:23I sat at my desk,
00:05:25spacing out for a good while before taking out my phone to check my bank balance.
00:05:31I only had a few thousand bucks left.
00:05:35Forget it.
00:05:36Better not dwell on it.
00:05:40Chloe,
00:05:41the boss is treating us to dinner tonight.
00:05:43You coming?
00:05:43My co-worker Emma walked over and patted my shoulder.
00:05:50I shook my head.
00:05:52She let out a belated and said with a grin,
00:05:56I forgot,
00:05:57you've got a virtuous-est male maid at home.
00:05:59He must have dinner ready by now.
00:06:02Milo cooking for me.
00:06:03I'd consider him obedient if he didn't tear my house down.
00:06:07I smiled bitterly.
00:06:09Just as I was about to explain,
00:06:11Emma looked full of motivation again.
00:06:12That's so nice!
00:06:14Now I'm even more motivated to make money.
00:06:18Someday,
00:06:19I'm going to buy a pretty man to serve me too.
00:06:22I couldn't really say anything to that,
00:06:24so I just reminded her.
00:06:27When you do buy one,
00:06:29make sure to choose a legit shop
00:06:31that allows returns.
00:06:33Never buy from the black market.
00:06:37Got it!
00:06:38Noted!
00:06:40I used to always be the first one
00:06:42to dash out the office doors.
00:06:45But today,
00:06:46nearly half an hour after getting off work,
00:06:48I was still dawdling at my desk,
00:06:50organizing my things.
00:06:52I kept checking my phone every now and then,
00:06:55opening the home security camera to take a look.
00:06:58Sure enough,
00:06:59Milo was gone again.
00:07:01Feeling frustrated and distracted,
00:07:03I simply decided not to rush back.
00:07:08I walked down the street,
00:07:09turned into an alley,
00:07:10and took a few turns.
00:07:13Before I knew it,
00:07:14I had somehow ended up at the black market again.
00:07:22This place was a chaotic mix of all sorts of people.
00:07:26It was dirty and messy.
00:07:28There were peddlers selling incubus everywhere.
00:07:32Some sickly ones were locked in cramped iron cages by the roadside.
00:07:38The horns on their heads half sawn off.
00:07:41They looked truly pitiful.
00:07:44Hey, hey, miss.
00:07:45Want to take a look?
00:07:46A rare male incubus.
00:07:48Name your price,
00:07:50and he's yours.
00:07:54I had only glanced over for a second
00:07:56before a burly merchant called out to me.
00:08:00I was dead broke and couldn't help even if I wanted to.
00:08:04I just quickened my pace and walked further in.
00:08:09Following my memory,
00:08:11I found that shady shop from last year.
00:08:15It was still open for business.
00:08:18The boss was dozing off at the front door.
00:08:21He didn't even wake up when I stepped inside.
00:08:26I slowed my steps and quietly slipped around to the backyard.
00:08:31As soon as I stepped inside,
00:08:33I heard a familiar male voice.
00:08:37Brother,
00:08:38has anyone planned to buy you these past few days?
00:08:41It was Milo's voice.
00:08:43He sneaked out just to see his brother.
00:08:46I stopped moving and stood behind the door,
00:08:50continuing to listen.
00:08:54A customer came last week and saw me twice,
00:08:57but didn't pay in the end.
00:09:03I'm disabled.
00:09:04Nobody wants me.
00:09:09Brother,
00:09:10if you hadn't tried to save me when we were kids,
00:09:12your leg wouldn't have been broken by those traffickers.
00:09:17It was my fault for sneaking out to play and dragging you down.
00:09:23I'm so sorry,
00:09:24brother.
00:09:26I'm fine,
00:09:27Milo.
00:09:27It's not your fault.
00:09:29Ezra was locked inside a large iron cage.
00:09:33An iron collar still fastened around his neck.
00:09:38He gripped the iron bars with both hands.
00:09:42Even though he was choked so tightly it was hard to breathe,
00:09:45he still comforted Milo with a gentle expression.
00:09:50I have never blamed you.
00:09:51I only hope you live well.
00:09:55You are a free man now.
00:09:57No longer a commodity on the black market.
00:10:01Forget all those unhappy things from the past.
00:10:05Milo squatted outside the iron cage,
00:10:07resting his arms on his knees.
00:10:09He let out an indignant snort.
00:10:11Not exactly free.
00:10:13The woman who bought me is terrified I'll run away and keeps me on a tight leash.
00:10:18Hearing the young man mention me.
00:10:21I slowly clenched my fists,
00:10:23my heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably.
00:10:27She's really annoying.
00:10:32Rather than being bought by her,
00:10:34I'd be better off staying here.
00:10:36His brows furrowed as he spoke.
00:10:39She's ugly and poor.
00:10:46The clothes she buys me are all fleeny market knockoffs,
00:10:49so uncomfortable to wear.
00:10:51It's only been a year.
00:10:53I don't dare to imagine how miserable my life will be
00:10:57if I have to stay with her forever.
00:10:59Before Milo could finish,
00:11:00Ezra interrupted him.
00:11:02It won't be.
00:11:03It's normal for things to be a bit tight at first.
00:11:07That Miss Byer looks like a kind person.
00:11:09She surely won't treat you poorly in the future.
00:11:13Kind?
00:11:14What kind about her?
00:11:15She ties me up every day.
00:11:18Look, there are still marks on my wrists.
00:11:23Milo rolled up his sleeves,
00:11:25pointing at the two faint rings on his wrists.
00:11:28I've really had enough.
00:11:32Brother, you don't know what my life is like.
00:11:37If it were possible,
00:11:38I'd want us to switch places
00:11:40so you could deal with that ugly woman.
00:11:42She is your master,
00:11:44so it's only right for her to discipline you.
00:11:46How is she ugly?
00:11:47Don't talk nonsense.
00:11:49It's all the truth.
00:11:51Who's talking nonsense?
00:11:54Those words were like knives
00:11:56entering through my ears
00:11:57but slashing my throat,
00:11:59leaving a swollen, sour ache in my throat.
00:12:03I couldn't listen anymore
00:12:04and was just about to leave.
00:12:13When I kicked a soda can,
00:12:15sending it clattering noisily,
00:12:18drawing their gazes toward me,
00:12:20Ezra looked at me first,
00:12:24the corners of his lips curling up
00:12:26into a meek smile.
00:12:30Meanwhile, Milo looked awful.
00:12:33He stood up, frozen in place,
00:12:36looking somewhat embarrassed.
00:12:39You... why are you here?
00:12:43I tried my best to appear calm.
00:12:47To take you home.
00:12:49But without waiting for his response,
00:12:51I quickly turned around and fled outside.
00:12:56Hey, Chloe!
00:12:58Milo jogged out after me,
00:13:00reaching out to grab the hem of my shirt.
00:13:06Chloe,
00:13:08why are you walking so fast?
00:13:10I ignored him,
00:13:12prying his fingers off
00:13:13to snatch my shirt back
00:13:14and kept walking forward.
00:13:18But my mind was full of the friendly smile
00:13:21Ezra had just shown me.
00:13:25It turned out he was somewhat different
00:13:27from Milo after all.
00:13:31He had a tiny teardrop mole
00:13:33under his left eyelid.
00:13:35Whenever he smiled,
00:13:37that mole would quietly shift upward.
00:13:41Have you been standing there
00:13:42the whole time?
00:13:43Did you hear everything
00:13:45my brother and I talked about?
00:13:47Ezra's legs weren't disabled from birth.
00:13:50It was a condition left behind
00:13:52from saving his younger brother.
00:13:55So pitiful.
00:13:56Much more pitiful than Milo.
00:14:02Hey, I'm asking you a question!
00:14:06Stop playing deaf.
00:14:08Milo behind me
00:14:09suddenly raised his voice
00:14:11interrupting my thoughts.
00:14:13I couldn't help but frown.
00:14:16I heard it,
00:14:17I heard all of it.
00:14:19His breath hitched,
00:14:20a hint of unease flashing
00:14:22across his face
00:14:23and his voice dropped significantly.
00:14:27I was telling the truth.
00:14:31You do tie me up every day?
00:14:33Yeah, it's the truth.
00:14:38I'm ugly.
00:14:39I'm poor.
00:14:40I abuse you.
00:14:43In your heart,
00:14:45I'm just an unforgivably
00:14:47wicked woman.
00:14:49For once,
00:14:51I didn't argue with him,
00:14:52but instead went along
00:14:53with his words.
00:14:56Milo fell silent.
00:14:59Or maybe he was angry.
00:15:02He lowered his eyelids
00:15:03and didn't speak again.
00:15:06On the way back,
00:15:07I occasionally looked up
00:15:08to observe the young man
00:15:10who was much taller than me.
00:15:13He had handsome brow bones
00:15:15and deep-set features.
00:15:18Even among the incubus race
00:15:20known for their high-average attractiveness,
00:15:22his beauty was top-tier.
00:15:25Yet the black hoodie he wore
00:15:27was just flea market knock-offs.
00:15:31The same style as mine,
00:15:33pilling all over
00:15:33from being washed
00:15:34to many times.
00:15:39Indeed,
00:15:40if he hadn't been bought
00:15:41by a pauper like me,
00:15:42his life would definitely
00:15:43be much better.
00:15:51If Milo resents me,
00:15:53let him resent me.
00:15:54I yawned
00:15:55and waved my hand.
00:15:58It's fine.
00:15:59I forgive you.
00:16:01Get out.
00:16:03Milo still didn't leave,
00:16:05rooted to the spot.
00:16:07I patted the pillow
00:16:09next to my hand.
00:16:11Then you're sleeping here?
00:16:13Over the past year,
00:16:15even though he resisted
00:16:16physical contact with me,
00:16:18we always slept
00:16:18in the same room.
00:16:21Even when we fought,
00:16:22we never slept
00:16:23in separate beds.
00:16:26Now that I was suddenly
00:16:27ignoring him,
00:16:28perhaps he wasn't used to it.
00:16:31With that said,
00:16:33Milo lifted a corner
00:16:34of the quilt
00:16:34and took off
00:16:35his pajama jacket.
00:16:38Then,
00:16:38a tight grip
00:16:39wrapped around my waist.
00:16:42He naturally
00:16:43clung to me,
00:16:44his tail pressing
00:16:44close in a fawning manner.
00:16:48I'm very sleepy.
00:16:50Lie down
00:16:51and get some good sleep.
00:16:52I turned on my side
00:16:54to create some distance.
00:16:56Milo instantly
00:16:57got annoyed.
00:17:00It's not like I really
00:17:01wanted to be close
00:17:02to you anyway.
00:17:03I scooted further
00:17:05toward the edge
00:17:05of the bed,
00:17:06getting even further
00:17:07away from him.
00:17:09The man became
00:17:10even more exasperated.
00:17:12Also,
00:17:13you're really fake.
00:17:14Then he tugged
00:17:15at the quilt twice
00:17:16and turned his back
00:17:17to me as well.
00:17:24Early weekend morning.
00:17:26I took a trip
00:17:27to the real estate agency.
00:17:30The old house
00:17:31was in a prime location.
00:17:33Though dilapidated,
00:17:35it offered an easy commute
00:17:36and was close to a school.
00:17:39It was probably worth
00:17:40a lot of money now.
00:17:44Last year,
00:17:45I figured I would use
00:17:46all my savings
00:17:46to buy the most
00:17:47beautiful incubus first.
00:17:51Then sell the old house
00:17:53to buy a smaller,
00:17:54fully furnished apartment.
00:17:57And live a comfortable life.
00:18:00But Milo never listened to me
00:18:03and was always causing trouble.
00:18:07I was busy with work too,
00:18:09so I put the matter on hold.
00:18:12Chloe Vance,
00:18:14our current appraisal
00:18:15for your property
00:18:16in a good school district
00:18:17is around $600,000.
00:18:19Are you in a hurry
00:18:21to sell?
00:18:22The sales consultant
00:18:23greeted me
00:18:24with a welcoming smile.
00:18:26I shook my head.
00:18:29No rush.
00:18:30I'm still a bit torn.
00:18:32All right.
00:18:33Please do your time
00:18:34to consider it.
00:18:35We can keep in touch.
00:18:36I took the hot tea
00:18:38she handed me
00:18:38and sat down
00:18:39on a nearby bench.
00:18:42Just then,
00:18:43a young girl
00:18:44walked through the door.
00:18:46Closely followed
00:18:47by a strikingly handsome
00:18:48incubus boy.
00:18:50She was here
00:18:51to rent an apartment
00:18:52through the agency.
00:18:55The girl had a loud voice
00:18:57chatting animatedly
00:18:58with the consultant.
00:19:00Meanwhile,
00:19:01her incubus
00:19:01nestled obediently
00:19:03by her side,
00:19:04occasionally tugging
00:19:05her sleeve
00:19:06and whispering
00:19:07a few words.
00:19:08Sister,
00:19:09the apartments here
00:19:11are so expensive.
00:19:12Let's not rent one.
00:19:15Actually,
00:19:16the place we're living
00:19:17in now
00:19:17is pretty good.
00:19:19I have good stamina,
00:19:21so walking
00:19:22a few extra steps
00:19:23after work
00:19:24can just be
00:19:24my workout.
00:19:26So sensible.
00:19:28My eyes were full of envy
00:19:30and a bitter ache
00:19:31twisted in my heart.
00:19:33Right then,
00:19:34my phone chimed.
00:19:35It was a message
00:19:37from Milo.
00:19:40Hey!
00:19:41Where did you go?
00:19:42I'm hungry.
00:19:50No greeting,
00:19:51no care,
00:19:52only demands.
00:19:53Eat instant noodles
00:19:55if you're hungry.
00:19:56I'm out taking care
00:19:57of some things.
00:19:58I no longer had
00:19:59any expectations
00:20:00of Milo.
00:20:03Not that kind
00:20:04of hungry,
00:20:05physically hungry.
00:20:06You ignored me
00:20:07last night.
00:20:08Did you forget?
00:20:10I'm really busy
00:20:11right now,
00:20:12can't you just
00:20:12hold it in?
00:20:14Why should I
00:20:15hold it in?
00:20:15What did you
00:20:16buy me for,
00:20:17then?
00:20:18His tone
00:20:19was aggressive.
00:20:20I hesitated
00:20:21for a moment,
00:20:22then swiped
00:20:23left and tapped
00:20:24do not disturb.
00:20:30Oh my,
00:20:31if it isn't
00:20:31Chloe!
00:20:33A regular
00:20:34customer,
00:20:34please come
00:20:35right in.
00:20:37There must
00:20:38have been
00:20:39something wrong
00:20:39with me.
00:20:41Whenever I
00:20:42got angry,
00:20:43I would run
00:20:43straight back
00:20:44to that shady
00:20:45shop.
00:20:48Seeing a
00:20:49massive cash
00:20:50cow like me
00:20:50arrive,
00:20:51the boss
00:20:52smiled so
00:20:52wide the
00:20:53wrinkles at
00:20:53the corners
00:20:54of his eyes
00:20:54crinkled like
00:20:55blooming flowers.
00:20:58His tone
00:20:58was almost
00:20:59sycophantic.
00:21:01What wind
00:21:02brings you
00:21:03here again?
00:21:05Oh right,
00:21:06I just got a
00:21:07few deep-sea
00:21:07merfits in
00:21:08and they've
00:21:09got plenty
00:21:09of stamina.
00:21:10Two people
00:21:11couldn't even
00:21:12hold one down.
00:21:14Want to
00:21:14take a look?
00:21:18You have
00:21:19the nerve
00:21:20to bring
00:21:20that up.
00:21:21Look at
00:21:22this scar.
00:21:23I sneered,
00:21:24pointing at
00:21:25the dark
00:21:25bruise on
00:21:25my neck.
00:21:27You said
00:21:28the incubus
00:21:29was clingy
00:21:29back then.
00:21:30Is this
00:21:31what you
00:21:31meant by
00:21:32clingy?
00:21:34The boss
00:21:35rubbed the
00:21:35tip of his
00:21:36nose,
00:21:36a flash of
00:21:37guilt in
00:21:37his eyes.
00:21:40Well,
00:21:41well,
00:21:41every incubus
00:21:42does a
00:21:42different
00:21:43personality.
00:21:45We don't
00:21:46do returns.
00:21:47I made that
00:21:47very clear to
00:21:48you last time.
00:21:49Besides,
00:21:49you've already
00:21:50used him.
00:21:51If you return
00:21:51him to me,
00:21:52I won't be
00:21:53able to
00:21:53sell him
00:21:54anyway.
00:21:56I'm not
00:21:57here for a
00:21:57return.
00:21:58Just browsing.
00:22:01Hearing that
00:22:01I wasn't here
00:22:02to cause
00:22:02trouble,
00:22:03the boss
00:22:03let out
00:22:04a long
00:22:04sigh of
00:22:05relief.
00:22:06All right,
00:22:07all right.
00:22:07Browse all
00:22:08you want.
00:22:16The shop
00:22:17was quite
00:22:17large with
00:22:18many cages.
00:22:20To please
00:22:20the customers,
00:22:21every incubus
00:22:22was dressed up
00:22:23brightly and
00:22:24looked spotlessly
00:22:24clean.
00:22:26But I walked
00:22:27a huge circle
00:22:27around the
00:22:28place and
00:22:28still didn't
00:22:29catch sight
00:22:29of Ezra.
00:22:31Last time
00:22:32I was here,
00:22:33wasn't there
00:22:34another in
00:22:34Cuptus who
00:22:35looked exactly
00:22:35like Milo?
00:22:36Was he
00:22:37bought by
00:22:38someone?
00:22:39Really
00:22:39curious,
00:22:40I turned
00:22:40back and
00:22:41asked after
00:22:41taking only
00:22:42a few
00:22:42steps.
00:22:45The boss's
00:22:46already dark
00:22:47face instantly
00:22:48darkened
00:22:48several degrees.
00:22:50His brows
00:22:51furrowed so
00:22:52tightly they
00:22:52could crush
00:22:53a fly.
00:22:56Sigh.
00:22:57I get a
00:22:58headache just
00:22:59mentioning him.
00:23:00Even though
00:23:01he's still a
00:23:01virgin, he's
00:23:02a cripple
00:23:03with a limp.
00:23:05Who would
00:23:06want him?
00:23:07a complete
00:23:08money loser.
00:23:09He got
00:23:10sick again
00:23:11these past
00:23:11few days,
00:23:12so I locked
00:23:12him in the
00:23:13warehouse.
00:23:14Leaving him
00:23:15to fend for
00:23:16himself?
00:23:17After he
00:23:17spoke, my
00:23:18heart suddenly
00:23:19sank.
00:23:21To tell you
00:23:22the truth, my
00:23:22shop is having
00:23:23trouble with
00:23:24cash flow right
00:23:25now.
00:23:26I really don't
00:23:27have extra
00:23:28money to treat
00:23:28him.
00:23:29The boss
00:23:30tacitly agreed.
00:23:31Where is the
00:23:32warehouse located?
00:23:33the elevator
00:23:34reached the
00:23:35first basement
00:23:36floor.
00:23:37It was like an
00:23:38ice cellar where
00:23:39you couldn't see
00:23:40your fingers in
00:23:41front of you.
00:23:44I could only
00:23:45see the path
00:23:46under my feet
00:23:46by the light
00:23:47of my phone.
00:23:53Two steps
00:23:54later, that
00:23:55weak voice
00:23:55became
00:23:55exceptionally
00:23:56clear.
00:23:58I turned
00:23:59my phone's
00:23:59brightness to
00:24:00the maximum
00:24:00and shone it
00:24:01in front of
00:24:01me.
00:24:03In a rusty
00:24:04iron cage, a
00:24:05tall man was
00:24:06curled up in a
00:24:06corner covered
00:24:07with weeds.
00:24:10Hearing the
00:24:10noise, he
00:24:11raised his
00:24:11eyes and
00:24:12looked over.
00:24:15The face
00:24:16that originally
00:24:16looked very
00:24:17much like
00:24:18Milo had
00:24:18become even
00:24:19more emaciated
00:24:20due to his
00:24:20illness.
00:24:23It also
00:24:24made people's
00:24:24hearts ache
00:24:25even more.
00:24:27Can you
00:24:28bury me
00:24:29tomorrow?
00:24:31Today is my
00:24:31birthday and
00:24:33I want to
00:24:33live through
00:24:34today.
00:24:38Ezra didn't
00:24:39recognize me,
00:24:41thinking I was
00:24:42a staff member
00:24:43of the shop
00:24:43coming to
00:24:44collect his
00:24:44body.
00:24:46I leaned
00:24:46closer and
00:24:47through the
00:24:48iron bars
00:24:48called him
00:24:49softly.
00:24:51Ezra, it's
00:24:52me, the
00:24:53buyer who
00:24:54adopted your
00:24:54brother.
00:24:56It's
00:24:56Chloe.
00:24:57He murmured
00:24:58softly.
00:25:05But because he
00:25:06had no
00:25:07strength, he
00:25:07fell heavily
00:25:08to the ground.
00:25:09My heart was
00:25:10pounding and I
00:25:11quickly called the
00:25:12boss to bring
00:25:13the keys.
00:25:14If I didn't save
00:25:15him now, he
00:25:16would really
00:25:16die.
00:25:16die.
00:25:19Even though he's
00:25:20a money loser, you
00:25:21should at least
00:25:21a litty give
00:25:22give a little
00:25:23before taking
00:25:24him away.
00:25:25You have to
00:25:26let me recoup
00:25:27some of my
00:25:27costs, right?
00:25:30The profiteer
00:25:31smiled playfully,
00:25:32holding Ezra's
00:25:33contract.
00:25:35But when he
00:25:36handed it to me,
00:25:37he didn't intend
00:25:38to let go.
00:25:40I sighed.
00:25:42How much
00:25:43do you want?
00:25:43His twin
00:25:44brother was
00:25:45$800,000.
00:25:46Let's round
00:25:47this one off.
00:25:48A rock
00:25:49bottom price.
00:25:51Just give me
00:25:51$100,000.
00:25:54And I'll
00:25:55throw in
00:25:55two exquisite
00:25:57collars
00:25:57for free.
00:25:58Inside the
00:25:59hospital.
00:26:00I carefully
00:26:01wiped the
00:26:02dust off
00:26:02Ezra's face
00:26:03and pulled
00:26:04the blanket
00:26:04up to his
00:26:04shoulders.
00:26:06Then I went
00:26:07to the lobby
00:26:07to pay the
00:26:08fees.
00:26:09And made
00:26:10a call to
00:26:10the real
00:26:11estate agent.
00:26:13Completely
00:26:13finalizing the
00:26:14sale of the
00:26:15house.
00:26:22In the
00:26:22hospital corridor,
00:26:23I turned
00:26:24off the
00:26:24speakerphone.
00:26:27But the
00:26:28irritable male
00:26:29voice on the
00:26:29other end was
00:26:30still loud and
00:26:31grating.
00:26:33Chloe, so
00:26:35you finally
00:26:35decided to
00:26:36answer your
00:26:36phone.
00:26:38Do you
00:26:38have any
00:26:39idea how
00:26:40many times
00:26:40I've called?
00:26:42What's wrong
00:26:43with you?
00:26:43Are you just
00:26:43not planning
00:26:44on coming
00:26:44back?
00:26:46I had been
00:26:47running around
00:26:48all day and
00:26:48half my leg
00:26:49was numb.
00:26:51I had
00:26:52absolutely no
00:26:53energy to
00:26:54coax him.
00:26:56I told you
00:26:57I'm busy.
00:26:59You're an
00:27:00adult incubator
00:27:01and the house
00:27:01is full of
00:27:02my scent.
00:27:02You won't
00:27:03starve to
00:27:03death any
00:27:04time soon.
00:27:05If you're
00:27:06really desperate,
00:27:08there's half a
00:27:08carton of
00:27:09milk I drank
00:27:09from in the
00:27:10fridge.
00:27:11Go have
00:27:12that.
00:27:13Who wants
00:27:14your stupid
00:27:15milk?
00:27:15I'm asking
00:27:16why you
00:27:17aren't coming
00:27:17back.
00:27:19Whenever I
00:27:19run off,
00:27:20you drag
00:27:20right play.
00:27:21But when
00:27:22it's your
00:27:22turn to
00:27:23disappear,
00:27:23what's that
00:27:24supposed to
00:27:24mean?
00:27:26Milo was
00:27:26relentless,
00:27:27insisting that
00:27:28I return
00:27:28immediately.
00:27:30rubbing my
00:27:31temples,
00:27:32I had no
00:27:32choice but
00:27:33to tell
00:27:33him the
00:27:34truth.
00:27:36Your
00:27:36brother got
00:27:37sick.
00:27:38His shady
00:27:39boss refused
00:27:39to treat him
00:27:40and he
00:27:40almost died.
00:27:47The
00:27:48doctor said
00:27:49Ezra just
00:27:49had a
00:27:50common
00:27:50cold.
00:27:51But it
00:27:52had dragged
00:27:52on for too
00:27:53long without
00:27:54treatment,
00:27:54plus malnutrition.
00:27:57So now he
00:27:58needs to rest
00:27:58quietly for a
00:27:59while to
00:28:00recover.
00:28:02Fortunately,
00:28:03it wasn't
00:28:03anything serious.
00:28:06When I
00:28:07returned to
00:28:07the ward,
00:28:08Ezra was
00:28:08already awake.
00:28:11looking at
00:28:12me with
00:28:12red eyes.
00:28:16Chloe,
00:28:16I'm sorry
00:28:17to trouble
00:28:17you.
00:28:19The man
00:28:19apologized to
00:28:20me uneasily
00:28:21with a
00:28:22hoarse voice.
00:28:24He still
00:28:25didn't know
00:28:25I had
00:28:25bought him.
00:28:28Drink
00:28:28some water
00:28:29first.
00:28:32I went
00:28:32to the
00:28:33water dispenser
00:28:33and got a
00:28:34cup of
00:28:34warm water.
00:28:36Ezra
00:28:37habitually
00:28:37raised the
00:28:38arm with
00:28:38the four
00:28:39needle in
00:28:39the back
00:28:40of his
00:28:40hand.
00:28:41But I
00:28:42held it
00:28:42down.
00:28:43Never
00:28:44mind,
00:28:44don't
00:28:44move.
00:28:45I'll
00:28:46feed you.
00:28:47The man
00:28:48drank very
00:28:49eagerly.
00:28:50A few
00:28:51drops of
00:28:51water ran
00:28:52down his
00:28:52chin and
00:28:53dripped onto
00:28:53his Adam's
00:28:54apple.
00:28:55Seeing this,
00:28:56I took a
00:28:57tissue from
00:28:57my pocket
00:28:58and casually
00:28:58wiped it
00:28:59away.
00:29:02Chloe,
00:29:03will the
00:29:04boss pay
00:29:04you for
00:29:05my
00:29:05harpernization
00:29:05expenses?
00:29:08after a
00:29:09long
00:29:09while,
00:29:09Ezra
00:29:10asked in
00:29:10a humble
00:29:11tone.
00:29:13You
00:29:13don't
00:29:13need to
00:29:14worry
00:29:14about
00:29:14that.
00:29:16Just
00:29:16focus on
00:29:17recovering
00:29:17for now.
00:29:19When
00:29:19forced to
00:29:20choose
00:29:20between the
00:29:20two of
00:29:21them last
00:29:21year,
00:29:22I didn't
00:29:22choose him.
00:29:24I didn't
00:29:25know if
00:29:25Ezra held
00:29:26any resentment
00:29:26toward me
00:29:28or if he
00:29:29could accept
00:29:30me as
00:29:30his master.
00:29:33I figured
00:29:34I'd let
00:29:34him stay
00:29:35in the
00:29:35hospital
00:29:36first and
00:29:39ask for
00:29:39his thoughts
00:29:40once he
00:29:40recovered.
00:29:43If he
00:29:43refused to
00:29:44acknowledge me,
00:29:45I wouldn't
00:29:45force him
00:29:46to stay.
00:29:47Ezra's
00:29:48thin lips
00:29:49parted
00:29:49slightly.
00:29:51Just as
00:29:52he was
00:29:52about to
00:29:52speak,
00:29:53my phone
00:29:53suddenly rang.
00:29:57Get some
00:29:58more sleep,
00:29:58I'm gonna
00:29:59step out
00:29:59to take
00:30:00this call.
00:30:01The man
00:30:02obediently
00:30:03nodded,
00:30:03watching me
00:30:04as I
00:30:04left the
00:30:05room.
00:30:11When I
00:30:12got home,
00:30:12the floor
00:30:13by the
00:30:13door was
00:30:13covered in
00:30:14shattered
00:30:14glass.
00:30:16I didn't
00:30:16even need
00:30:17to guess
00:30:17who did
00:30:18it.
00:30:19The young
00:30:19man sat
00:30:20on the
00:30:20sofa with
00:30:21his arms
00:30:21crossed,
00:30:22his short
00:30:22hair a
00:30:22mess.
00:30:24He
00:30:25must have
00:30:25just finished
00:30:26throwing a
00:30:26tantrum.
00:30:30How's
00:30:30my brother?
00:30:31Milo
00:30:32asked
00:30:32grumpily.
00:30:33Much
00:30:33better.
00:30:34Do you
00:30:35want to
00:30:35go see
00:30:35him?
00:30:36After
00:30:36bending
00:30:37down to
00:30:37change
00:30:37my
00:30:38shoes,
00:30:38I
00:30:38replied
00:30:39to
00:30:39him
00:30:39and
00:30:39walked
00:30:39straight
00:30:40to
00:30:40the
00:30:40balcony.
00:30:42Pulling
00:30:43out a
00:30:43suitcase
00:30:43to start
00:30:44packing.
00:30:47Since
00:30:47when are
00:30:48you so
00:30:48kind
00:30:48hearted?
00:30:50Last
00:30:51time I
00:30:51went to
00:30:51see my
00:30:52brother,
00:30:52you
00:30:52specifically
00:30:53followed
00:30:53me.
00:30:54I
00:30:55didn't
00:30:55say
00:30:55anything,
00:30:56just
00:30:56sped up
00:30:56my
00:30:57movements,
00:30:57forcefully
00:30:58stuffing
00:30:58clothes
00:30:58into
00:30:59the
00:30:59suitcase.
00:31:01After
00:31:02a few
00:31:02seconds
00:31:02of
00:31:02silence,
00:31:03the
00:31:03young
00:31:03man
00:31:04stood
00:31:04up
00:31:04and
00:31:04walked
00:31:05toward
00:31:05me.
00:31:07Hey,
00:31:08what are
00:31:08you
00:31:08planning?
00:31:10About
00:31:10what?
00:31:12My
00:31:13brother.
00:31:14You
00:31:14said the
00:31:15shop doesn't
00:31:15want him
00:31:15anymore,
00:31:16so what's
00:31:16he gonna
00:31:16do
00:31:17now?
00:31:17I
00:31:18looked
00:31:18up,
00:31:19my
00:31:19tone
00:31:19calm.
00:31:21I'll
00:31:21take
00:31:21care
00:31:21of
00:31:22him
00:31:22for
00:31:22now,
00:31:22of
00:31:22course.
00:31:24Milo
00:31:24froze,
00:31:25and
00:31:25then
00:31:25his
00:31:25eyes
00:31:25widened
00:31:26in
00:31:26disbelief.
00:31:29You'll
00:31:29take
00:31:30care
00:31:30of
00:31:30him?
00:31:32With
00:31:33what
00:31:33money?
00:31:35You
00:31:35can
00:31:35barely
00:31:36afford
00:31:36to
00:31:36keep
00:31:36me,
00:31:37and
00:31:38now
00:31:38you
00:31:38want
00:31:38to
00:31:38bring
00:31:38my
00:31:38brother
00:31:39into
00:31:39this
00:31:39dump
00:31:39too?
00:31:42Are
00:31:42you
00:31:43gonna
00:31:43make
00:31:43him
00:31:43sleep
00:31:43on
00:31:43the
00:31:44floor?
00:31:49thinking
00:31:49of
00:31:50the
00:31:50miserable
00:31:50state
00:31:50Ezra
00:31:51was
00:31:51in,
00:31:52locked
00:31:52in
00:31:52that
00:31:52iron
00:31:52cage.
00:31:55I
00:31:55found
00:31:56the
00:31:56current
00:31:56Milo
00:31:57utterly
00:31:57ridiculous
00:31:57in
00:31:58comparison.
00:31:59I
00:32:00suddenly
00:32:00lost
00:32:00control
00:32:01of
00:32:01my
00:32:01tone.
00:32:03Do
00:32:03you
00:32:03think
00:32:04your
00:32:04brother
00:32:04is
00:32:04just
00:32:05like
00:32:05you,
00:32:05some
00:32:06precious
00:32:06little
00:32:06young
00:32:07master?
00:32:08After
00:32:09I
00:32:09said
00:32:09that,
00:32:09Milo
00:32:10naturally
00:32:10threw
00:32:11a
00:32:11fit.
00:32:12He
00:32:13snatched
00:32:13the
00:32:13freshly
00:32:14folded
00:32:14clothes
00:32:15right
00:32:15out
00:32:15of
00:32:15my
00:32:15hands.
00:32:17threw
00:32:17them
00:32:18onto
00:32:18the
00:32:18bed
00:32:18and
00:32:19yelled
00:32:19angrily.
00:32:20What's
00:32:21that
00:32:21supposed
00:32:21to
00:32:21mean?
00:32:22You
00:32:22think
00:32:22I'm
00:32:23too
00:32:23picky
00:32:23and
00:32:23my
00:32:23brother
00:32:24is
00:32:24easier
00:32:24to
00:32:24please?
00:32:25I
00:32:26didn't
00:32:26want
00:32:26to
00:32:26argue
00:32:27with
00:32:27this
00:32:27drama
00:32:27queen.
00:32:29I
00:32:29stayed
00:32:30silent,
00:32:31reaching
00:32:31out to
00:32:31pick
00:32:31up
00:32:31the
00:32:31clothes
00:32:32from
00:32:32the
00:32:32bed
00:32:32and
00:32:33folding
00:32:33them
00:32:33again.
00:32:34He
00:32:35was
00:32:35so
00:32:35angry
00:32:36that
00:32:36the
00:32:36tail
00:32:36behind
00:32:36him
00:32:37was
00:32:37thrashing
00:32:37wildly.
00:32:39Chloe,
00:32:40I
00:32:41advise
00:32:41you to
00:32:41quickly
00:32:42find a
00:32:42good
00:32:42family
00:32:42to
00:32:43send
00:32:43my
00:32:43brother
00:32:43to.
00:32:44You
00:32:45can't
00:32:45afford
00:32:45to
00:32:45keep
00:32:46both
00:32:46of
00:32:46us.
00:32:46Yeah,
00:32:47I
00:32:47have
00:32:47no
00:32:47money.
00:32:48So,
00:32:49to
00:32:50buy
00:32:50your
00:32:50brother's
00:32:50freedom,
00:32:51I
00:32:51sold
00:32:51this
00:32:52apartment.
00:32:53Don't
00:32:54just
00:32:54stand
00:32:54there.
00:32:55Go
00:32:56pack
00:32:56your
00:32:56bags.
00:32:57We're
00:32:57moving
00:32:58tomorrow.
00:32:59Milo
00:33:00froze
00:33:00in
00:33:00place,
00:33:01staring
00:33:01in
00:33:01sheer
00:33:01disbelief.
00:33:03What?
00:33:04You
00:33:05even
00:33:05sold
00:33:05our
00:33:06house?
00:33:07Just
00:33:08for
00:33:08my
00:33:08brother?
00:33:14In
00:33:15the
00:33:15end,
00:33:15the
00:33:15house
00:33:15sold
00:33:16for
00:33:16$650,000.
00:33:19After
00:33:20paying off
00:33:20the
00:33:21bosses
00:33:21I
00:33:21owe
00:33:21you,
00:33:22I
00:33:22still
00:33:22had
00:33:22a
00:33:22few
00:33:23hundred
00:33:23thousand
00:33:23in
00:33:24savings.
00:33:27Enough
00:33:27to find
00:33:28a
00:33:28comfortable
00:33:28apartment
00:33:28to
00:33:29rent.
00:33:31But
00:33:32the
00:33:32move
00:33:32was
00:33:32so
00:33:33rushed.
00:33:35I
00:33:36couldn't
00:33:36find a
00:33:36satisfactory
00:33:37place
00:33:37right
00:33:38away.
00:33:39I
00:33:40settled
00:33:40for a
00:33:41cheap
00:33:41basement
00:33:41on a
00:33:41short
00:33:42term
00:33:42lease,
00:33:43fully
00:33:43furnished
00:33:43and
00:33:43ready
00:33:44to
00:33:44move
00:33:44in.
00:33:45Ezra
00:33:46was
00:33:46being
00:33:46discharged
00:33:46from
00:33:47the
00:33:47hospital
00:33:47today.
00:33:50I
00:33:50was
00:33:50busy
00:33:51with
00:33:51work
00:33:51so
00:33:51I
00:33:51had
00:33:51to
00:33:52ask
00:33:52Milo
00:33:52to
00:33:52pick
00:33:53him
00:33:53up.
00:33:56You
00:33:57haven't
00:33:57seen
00:33:57your
00:33:57brother
00:33:57in a
00:33:58long
00:33:58time.
00:33:58You
00:33:58must
00:33:59miss
00:33:59him.
00:34:00Don't
00:34:01worry,
00:34:01I'm
00:34:01really
00:34:02going
00:34:02to
00:34:02work.
00:34:04I
00:34:05don't
00:34:05have
00:34:05time
00:34:06to
00:34:06stalk
00:34:06you
00:34:07or
00:34:07eavesdrop
00:34:07on
00:34:08your
00:34:08conversation.
00:34:12You
00:34:13two
00:34:13can
00:34:13talk
00:34:14freely.
00:34:16I
00:34:17smiled
00:34:17faintly
00:34:18and handed
00:34:18over the
00:34:18two
00:34:19spare
00:34:19keys to
00:34:20the
00:34:20basement.
00:34:23Remember
00:34:24to give
00:34:24one to
00:34:24your
00:34:25brother.
00:34:26Milo
00:34:26refused to
00:34:27take them,
00:34:28so I
00:34:28shoved them
00:34:28into his
00:34:29hand.
00:34:31The
00:34:32smile faded
00:34:33from my
00:34:33face.
00:34:35Can
00:34:36you
00:34:36just
00:34:36listen
00:34:36for
00:34:37once?
00:34:42I'm
00:34:42really
00:34:42tired.
00:34:43Only
00:34:44then did
00:34:45Milo
00:34:45reluctantly
00:34:46head
00:34:46out.
00:34:48Once
00:34:48at the
00:34:49office,
00:34:49I
00:34:49started
00:34:50processing
00:34:50the
00:34:50backlog
00:34:51of
00:34:51files
00:34:51and
00:34:52documents.
00:34:54During
00:34:55that time,
00:34:55Milo
00:34:56sent a
00:34:56message
00:34:57saying
00:34:57they
00:34:57had
00:34:57arrived
00:34:58home.
00:35:00My
00:35:00brother
00:35:00isn't
00:35:01suited
00:35:01for
00:35:01this
00:35:02place.
00:35:02It's
00:35:03too
00:35:03damp.
00:35:03The
00:35:04walls
00:35:04are
00:35:04covered
00:35:05in
00:35:05cobwebers
00:35:05and
00:35:06his
00:35:06leg
00:35:06is
00:35:06still
00:35:07injured.
00:35:10He
00:35:10definitely
00:35:11won't be
00:35:11able to
00:35:12handle
00:35:12it
00:35:12when
00:35:12the
00:35:13weather
00:35:13gets
00:35:13cold.
00:35:14Ask
00:35:14your
00:35:14friends
00:35:15or
00:35:15colleagues
00:35:15if
00:35:16anyone
00:35:16wants
00:35:16him.
00:35:17Don't
00:35:17let
00:35:17him
00:35:18suffer
00:35:18here
00:35:18with
00:35:18us.
00:35:23Milo
00:35:24sure
00:35:24knows
00:35:24how
00:35:25to
00:35:25worry.
00:35:25I
00:35:26was
00:35:26thinking
00:35:26the
00:35:26same
00:35:26thing.
00:35:28But
00:35:28the
00:35:28prerequisite
00:35:29was
00:35:29to
00:35:29ask
00:35:30for
00:35:30Ezra's
00:35:30own
00:35:31opinion
00:35:31first.
00:35:34After
00:35:34work,
00:35:35I went
00:35:35to the
00:35:35supermarket
00:35:36and bought
00:35:36a bag
00:35:37of daily
00:35:37necessities
00:35:38for Ezra.
00:35:40When I
00:35:40got back,
00:35:41I found
00:35:41him wearing
00:35:42Milo's
00:35:42old t-shirt.
00:35:44The man
00:35:45was standing
00:35:45in the
00:35:46kitchen,
00:35:46scrubbing
00:35:47the greasy
00:35:47range hood.
00:35:49Milo
00:35:50was sweeping
00:35:50the floor
00:35:51in the
00:35:51living room.
00:35:53This
00:35:53basement
00:35:54was on
00:35:54the first
00:35:54underground
00:35:55floor.
00:35:57It
00:35:57wasn't
00:35:58spacious,
00:35:58but it
00:35:58had a
00:35:59fully
00:35:59equipped
00:35:59kitchen,
00:36:00living
00:36:00room,
00:36:01and
00:36:01bathroom.
00:36:04The
00:36:04only
00:36:04downside
00:36:05was the
00:36:05lack
00:36:05of
00:36:06bedrooms.
00:36:06There
00:36:06was
00:36:06only
00:36:07one.
00:36:10Ezra,
00:36:10you just
00:36:11got out
00:36:11of the
00:36:11hospital.
00:36:16You
00:36:16need to
00:36:16rest
00:36:17properly.
00:36:17I'll
00:36:18handle
00:36:18this.
00:36:19I
00:36:20placed
00:36:20the
00:36:20bag
00:36:20on
00:36:20the
00:36:20coffee
00:36:21table
00:36:21and
00:36:21called
00:36:22him
00:36:22over.
00:36:24Try
00:36:24these
00:36:25slippers
00:36:25on
00:36:25first
00:36:26and
00:36:26see
00:36:26if
00:36:27they
00:36:27fit.
00:36:30I
00:36:30bought
00:36:30them
00:36:31based
00:36:31on
00:36:31Milo's
00:36:32shoe
00:36:32size.
00:36:33I
00:36:34only
00:36:34had
00:36:34to
00:36:34say
00:36:34it
00:36:35once.
00:36:37Ezra
00:36:38immediately
00:36:38put down
00:36:39the rag,
00:36:39washed
00:36:40his hands
00:36:40and came
00:36:40over to
00:36:41me.
00:36:44Chloe,
00:36:45are you
00:36:46going to
00:36:46take me
00:36:46in?
00:36:47His
00:36:47eyes
00:36:47were
00:36:47bright
00:36:48and
00:36:48exceptionally
00:36:49beautiful.
00:36:50I
00:36:51spoke
00:36:51with
00:36:51hesitation.
00:36:52This
00:36:52is
00:36:52entirely
00:36:53up
00:36:53to
00:36:53you.
00:36:55If
00:36:55you're
00:36:55not
00:36:56willing,
00:36:56I
00:36:56won't.
00:36:57Before
00:36:57I
00:36:58could
00:36:58finish,
00:36:58Ezra
00:36:59eagerly
00:36:59interrupted.
00:37:01I'm
00:37:01willing!
00:37:06I'm
00:37:07very
00:37:07willing.
00:37:08I
00:37:09can
00:37:09do
00:37:09chores,
00:37:10cook,
00:37:11and
00:37:12go out
00:37:12to
00:37:12work.
00:37:14As
00:37:14long
00:37:15as I
00:37:15can
00:37:15stay
00:37:15by
00:37:15your
00:37:15side,
00:37:16I'll
00:37:16do
00:37:16anything.
00:37:17Ezra
00:37:17eagerly
00:37:18replied.
00:37:19Meanwhile,
00:37:20Milo,
00:37:20standing to
00:37:21the side
00:37:21with a
00:37:21scowl,
00:37:22gave a
00:37:22cold
00:37:22snort
00:37:23and ran
00:37:23out to
00:37:24the
00:37:24balcony
00:37:24for
00:37:24some
00:37:25fresh
00:37:25air.
00:37:28You
00:37:28can
00:37:29work
00:37:30too?
00:37:31I
00:37:31was
00:37:31quite
00:37:32curious.
00:37:33Because
00:37:34for the
00:37:34past year,
00:37:35Milo did
00:37:35nothing but
00:37:36go out
00:37:36to play
00:37:37or give
00:37:37me the
00:37:37cold
00:37:38shoulder
00:37:38at home.
00:37:40I
00:37:40always
00:37:41thought an
00:37:41incubus
00:37:41was just
00:37:42a pretty
00:37:42vase.
00:37:43Although
00:37:44my
00:37:44leg
00:37:44is a
00:37:44bit
00:37:45crippled,
00:37:45my
00:37:46daily
00:37:46mobility
00:37:47is
00:37:47fine.
00:37:48I've
00:37:49worked
00:37:49as
00:37:49a
00:37:50cleaner
00:37:50in
00:37:50the
00:37:50shop
00:37:51and
00:37:51learnt
00:37:51many
00:37:52skills.
00:37:53Don't
00:37:54worry,
00:37:54master,
00:37:55I can
00:37:55make
00:37:55money.
00:37:57Ezra
00:37:58calling me,
00:37:58master,
00:37:59made my
00:37:59face flush
00:38:00with a
00:38:00hint of
00:38:00embarrassment.
00:38:03Just
00:38:04call me
00:38:04by my
00:38:04name.
00:38:05Sit
00:38:05for a
00:38:06while,
00:38:06I'll
00:38:06go make
00:38:07dinner.
00:38:08The
00:38:09man
00:38:09grabbed
00:38:10my
00:38:10wrist.
00:38:12Chloe,
00:38:13dinner
00:38:14is already
00:38:14ready.
00:38:16I
00:38:16had
00:38:16Malo
00:38:17go buy
00:38:17groceries
00:38:17this
00:38:18afternoon.
00:38:19I
00:38:20figured
00:38:20since
00:38:20you
00:38:20have
00:38:20to
00:38:20work
00:38:21every
00:38:21day,
00:38:21you
00:38:22shouldn't
00:38:22have
00:38:22to
00:38:22be
00:38:22so
00:38:23exhausted
00:38:23when
00:38:23you
00:38:23get
00:38:23back.
00:38:24It
00:38:25felt
00:38:25exactly
00:38:25like
00:38:26a
00:38:26dream.
00:38:27I
00:38:27sat
00:38:27at
00:38:27the
00:38:28dining
00:38:28table,
00:38:28facing
00:38:29a
00:38:29lavish
00:38:29spread
00:38:30of all
00:38:30my
00:38:30favorite
00:38:30dishes.
00:38:32Ezra
00:38:33thoughtfully
00:38:33placed
00:38:33food
00:38:34into
00:38:34my
00:38:34bowl.
00:38:36Master,
00:38:38once
00:38:39you
00:38:39put
00:38:39your
00:38:39fingerprint
00:38:39on
00:38:40my
00:38:40contract,
00:38:41you
00:38:41only
00:38:42need
00:38:42to
00:38:42give
00:38:42me
00:38:42the
00:38:42water
00:38:43you've
00:38:43drank
00:38:43from
00:38:43every
00:38:44day.
00:38:45I
00:38:45paused
00:38:46my
00:38:46chopsticks
00:38:46and
00:38:47asked
00:38:47in
00:38:47confusion.
00:38:50Is
00:38:50that
00:38:50really
00:38:51enough?
00:38:58It
00:38:58seemed
00:38:59Ezra
00:38:59had
00:38:59never
00:39:00considered
00:39:00developing
00:39:01a
00:39:01romantic
00:39:01relationship
00:39:02with
00:39:02me.
00:39:03He
00:39:04nodded
00:39:04cautiously.
00:39:07sitting
00:39:07across
00:39:07from
00:39:08me,
00:39:08Milo,
00:39:09who had
00:39:09been
00:39:09silent
00:39:09all this
00:39:10time,
00:39:10suddenly
00:39:11spoke
00:39:11up.
00:39:15Brother,
00:39:15why do
00:39:16you have
00:39:16to put
00:39:17yourself
00:39:17so low?
00:39:19She
00:39:19sold
00:39:20the
00:39:20house
00:39:20she
00:39:20lived
00:39:20in
00:39:21for
00:39:21years
00:39:21just
00:39:21for
00:39:22you.
00:39:22So
00:39:23that's
00:39:23how
00:39:23it
00:39:23is.
00:39:24Chloe,
00:39:26you've
00:39:26really
00:39:26sacrificed
00:39:27too
00:39:27much
00:39:28for
00:39:28me.
00:39:29I
00:39:29truly
00:39:30never
00:39:30thought
00:39:31anyone
00:39:31would
00:39:31love
00:39:31me
00:39:31this
00:39:32much.
00:39:33As
00:39:33Ezra
00:39:34spoke,
00:39:34tears
00:39:34were
00:39:35about
00:39:35to
00:39:35fall
00:39:35from
00:39:35his
00:39:36eyes.
00:39:37I
00:39:38quickly
00:39:38pulled
00:39:39out
00:39:39a
00:39:39tissue
00:39:39and
00:39:39handed
00:39:40it
00:39:40over.
00:39:42This
00:39:43is
00:39:43what
00:39:43a
00:39:43people
00:39:43pleasing
00:39:44incubus
00:39:44who
00:39:45has
00:39:45never
00:39:45been
00:39:45loved
00:39:46is
00:39:46like.
00:39:48Watching
00:39:48him
00:39:49made
00:39:49me
00:39:49want
00:39:49to
00:39:49shed
00:39:50tears
00:39:50too.
00:39:52Don't
00:39:53cry.
00:39:54No
00:39:55one
00:39:55will
00:39:55ever
00:39:56lock
00:39:56you
00:39:56in
00:39:56a
00:39:56cage
00:39:57again.
00:39:57The
00:39:58combative
00:39:58incubus
00:39:59beside
00:39:59us
00:39:59was
00:39:59indignant,
00:40:00slamming
00:40:01his
00:40:01spoon
00:40:01and
00:40:01bowl
00:40:02down,
00:40:02making
00:40:02a
00:40:03loud
00:40:03clatter.
00:40:06I
00:40:06frowned
00:40:07and
00:40:07looked
00:40:07over.
00:40:09What's
00:40:09wrong
00:40:10with
00:40:10you
00:40:10now?
00:40:11Milo
00:40:11lowered
00:40:12his
00:40:12head,
00:40:12picking
00:40:13at
00:40:13his
00:40:13fingertips.
00:40:15Nothing.
00:40:16After
00:40:16dinner,
00:40:17I
00:40:17gathered
00:40:17the
00:40:17dishes
00:40:17to
00:40:18wash
00:40:18them.
00:40:19But
00:40:20Ezra
00:40:20wouldn't
00:40:20let me
00:40:21into
00:40:21the
00:40:21kitchen.
00:40:23Let
00:40:23me
00:40:23wash
00:40:24them.
00:40:25It'll
00:40:25be
00:40:25done
00:40:25in
00:40:26no
00:40:26time,
00:40:26and
00:40:27I
00:40:27haven't
00:40:27even
00:40:27taken
00:40:27off
00:40:28my
00:40:28apron
00:40:28yet.
00:40:28No
00:40:29way.
00:40:30I
00:40:30can't
00:40:30let
00:40:30you
00:40:31do
00:40:31everything.
00:40:32Your
00:40:32legs
00:40:32will
00:40:33hurt
00:40:33if
00:40:33you
00:40:33stand
00:40:33for
00:40:33too
00:40:34long.
00:40:35I
00:40:36disagreed.
00:40:37At
00:40:37this
00:40:37moment,
00:40:37the
00:40:38younger
00:40:38man,
00:40:38still
00:40:38sitting
00:40:39on
00:40:39the
00:40:39stool,
00:40:39suddenly
00:40:40stood
00:40:40up.
00:40:42All
00:40:42this
00:40:42pushing
00:40:43and
00:40:43pulling
00:40:43just
00:40:43to
00:40:43wash
00:40:44some
00:40:44dishes,
00:40:45so
00:40:45annoying.
00:40:46I'll
00:40:46wash
00:40:46them,
00:40:47let
00:40:47me
00:40:47do
00:40:47it.
00:40:48The
00:40:48sun
00:40:48must
00:40:48be
00:40:49rising
00:40:49from
00:40:49the
00:40:49west.
00:40:50How
00:40:50rare.
00:40:52Milo
00:40:52actually
00:40:53volunteered
00:40:53to
00:40:53wash
00:40:54the
00:40:54dishes.
00:41:02Since
00:41:02there
00:41:02was only
00:41:03one
00:41:03bedroom,
00:41:04I
00:41:04thought
00:41:04about
00:41:04laying
00:41:04another
00:41:05quilt
00:41:05on
00:41:05the
00:41:05living
00:41:06room
00:41:06sofa.
00:41:08But
00:41:09once I
00:41:09put it
00:41:09down,
00:41:09I realized
00:41:10the sofa
00:41:11was too
00:41:11small,
00:41:12far from
00:41:12enough
00:41:12for the
00:41:13physique
00:41:13of an
00:41:13adult
00:41:14incubus.
00:41:15Ezra
00:41:16saw my
00:41:16dilemma.
00:41:17He picked
00:41:17up the
00:41:18old
00:41:18quilt
00:41:18from the
00:41:18sofa
00:41:19and
00:41:19walked
00:41:19toward
00:41:20the
00:41:20utility
00:41:20room
00:41:20that
00:41:21hadn't
00:41:21been
00:41:21fully
00:41:21cleaned
00:41:22out
00:41:22yet.
00:41:23What
00:41:24are
00:41:24you
00:41:24doing?
00:41:25The
00:41:25man
00:41:26pushed
00:41:26open
00:41:26the
00:41:26utility
00:41:27room
00:41:27door,
00:41:28revealing
00:41:28an
00:41:28iron
00:41:28bed
00:41:29frame
00:41:29that
00:41:29had
00:41:29already
00:41:30been
00:41:30set
00:41:30up
00:41:30inside.
00:41:32He
00:41:33pointed
00:41:33it out
00:41:33to
00:41:34me,
00:41:34smiling
00:41:34shyly.
00:41:35I can
00:41:36just
00:41:36sleep
00:41:36here
00:41:36from
00:41:36now
00:41:37on.
00:41:38It's
00:41:39quite
00:41:39spacious.
00:41:40The
00:41:40more
00:41:40understanding
00:41:41Ezra
00:41:41was,
00:41:42the
00:41:42more
00:41:42I
00:41:42regretted
00:41:43and
00:41:43feared.
00:41:44If I
00:41:45hadn't
00:41:45gone to
00:41:46the
00:41:46black
00:41:46market
00:41:46that
00:41:46day,
00:41:47would
00:41:47he
00:41:47have
00:41:47been
00:41:47gone
00:41:48long
00:41:48ago?
00:41:50I
00:41:50told
00:41:50him
00:41:51with
00:41:51a
00:41:51hoarse
00:41:51voice.
00:41:54You
00:41:54don't
00:41:55have
00:41:55to
00:41:55do
00:41:55this.
00:41:58I
00:41:59still
00:41:59have
00:41:59money
00:41:59and
00:42:00I
00:42:00will
00:42:00treat
00:42:00you
00:42:01very,
00:42:01very
00:42:01well
00:42:02from
00:42:02now
00:42:02on.
00:42:03But
00:42:04the
00:42:04man
00:42:04shook
00:42:04his
00:42:04head
00:42:05saying
00:42:05he
00:42:05was
00:42:05very
00:42:06content.
00:42:09You
00:42:09saved
00:42:10my
00:42:10life
00:42:11and
00:42:12you've
00:42:12already
00:42:12been
00:42:12good
00:42:12enough
00:42:13to
00:42:13me.
00:42:20My
00:42:20foot
00:42:20is
00:42:20bad.
00:42:21I
00:42:21walk
00:42:21awkwardly
00:42:25and
00:42:25I've
00:42:25gotten
00:42:26thin
00:42:26now.
00:42:28Compared
00:42:28to
00:42:28my
00:42:29brother,
00:42:30I
00:42:30really
00:42:31have
00:42:31no
00:42:31advantages.
00:42:32Just
00:42:33treat
00:42:34me as
00:42:34a
00:42:35free
00:42:35cleaner
00:42:35or
00:42:36a
00:42:37punching
00:42:37bag
00:42:37when
00:42:38you're
00:42:38angry.
00:42:39As
00:42:39long
00:42:39as
00:42:39I
00:42:39can
00:42:40provide
00:42:40meaningful
00:42:40value
00:42:41to
00:42:41you,
00:42:41feel
00:42:42free
00:42:42to
00:42:42order
00:42:43me
00:42:43around.
00:42:48I
00:42:48was
00:42:49just
00:42:49feeling
00:42:49touched
00:42:50when
00:42:51suddenly
00:42:51a
00:42:52certain
00:42:52young
00:42:52man's
00:42:53sarcastic
00:42:53voice
00:42:53came
00:42:54from
00:42:54behind.
00:42:57Oh,
00:42:58oh,
00:42:58oh,
00:42:58feel
00:42:58free
00:42:59to
00:42:59order
00:42:59me
00:42:59around.
00:43:01Brother,
00:43:01you've
00:43:01been
00:43:01running
00:43:02your
00:43:02mouth
00:43:02all
00:43:03night.
00:43:04Go
00:43:04to
00:43:04sleep
00:43:05already.
00:43:06What's
00:43:06with
00:43:06this
00:43:07whole
00:43:07loyal
00:43:07servant
00:43:08act?
00:43:09I'm
00:43:10speechless.
00:43:11I
00:43:11turned
00:43:11around
00:43:11in
00:43:12shock.
00:43:13Milo,
00:43:14how
00:43:15can
00:43:15you
00:43:15speak
00:43:15to
00:43:16your
00:43:16brother
00:43:16like
00:43:16that?
00:43:17The
00:43:17young
00:43:17man
00:43:18sneered.
00:43:19He's
00:43:20just
00:43:20trying
00:43:20to
00:43:20usurp
00:43:21someone's
00:43:21place.
00:43:22Don't
00:43:22tell
00:43:22me
00:43:22you
00:43:23can't
00:43:23see
00:43:23it.
00:43:24What
00:43:24are
00:43:25you
00:43:25talking
00:43:25about?
00:43:26You're
00:43:26being
00:43:27ridiculous.
00:43:28He's
00:43:28acting
00:43:29and
00:43:29playing
00:43:29the
00:43:29victim.
00:43:29Can't
00:43:30you
00:43:30see?
00:43:31Don't
00:43:31you
00:43:31know
00:43:32that
00:43:32an
00:43:32incantos
00:43:33becomes
00:43:33extremely
00:43:34petty
00:43:34after
00:43:35acknowledging
00:43:35a
00:43:35master?
00:43:36Well,
00:43:37I
00:43:37really
00:43:38didn't
00:43:38know
00:43:38that.
00:43:40Because
00:43:40the
00:43:40incubus
00:43:41I
00:43:41kept
00:43:41never
00:43:42acknowledged
00:43:42me
00:43:42as
00:43:43his
00:43:43master.
00:43:45Every
00:43:45day,
00:43:46apart
00:43:46from
00:43:46making
00:43:48behind
00:43:48my
00:43:49back
00:43:49about
00:43:49how
00:43:49I
00:43:49abused
00:43:50him.
00:43:54Milo,
00:43:54you're
00:43:55the
00:43:55petty
00:43:55one
00:43:56here.
00:43:56Your
00:43:57brother
00:43:57even
00:43:57volunteered
00:43:58to
00:43:58sleep
00:43:58in
00:43:59the
00:43:59storage
00:43:59room.
00:43:59How
00:44:00is
00:44:00that
00:44:00trying
00:44:00to
00:44:00usurp
00:44:01someone's
00:44:01place?
00:44:06Your
00:44:06words
00:44:06are always
00:44:07so
00:44:07harsh.
00:44:08I
00:44:09had
00:44:09already
00:44:09lost
00:44:09all
00:44:10expectations
00:44:10for
00:44:11Milo.
00:44:12But
00:44:12I
00:44:13didn't
00:44:13expect
00:44:13that
00:44:13he
00:44:13wouldn't
00:44:14just
00:44:14insult
00:44:14me,
00:44:15even
00:44:15his
00:44:15brother
00:44:15would
00:44:16get
00:44:16scolded
00:44:16upon
00:44:17arriving.
00:44:22Milo
00:44:23acted
00:44:23like
00:44:23he
00:44:23was
00:44:24crazy.
00:44:26Suddenly
00:44:26grabbing
00:44:27Ezra
00:44:27by the
00:44:27collar
00:44:28and
00:44:28pushing
00:44:28him
00:44:28outward.
00:44:31This
00:44:32is my
00:44:32home
00:44:32to
00:44:32begin
00:44:32with
00:44:33and
00:44:33that
00:44:33is
00:44:33my
00:44:34master!
00:44:34Get
00:44:35out!
00:44:35Get
00:44:35out!
00:44:36Ezra
00:44:37stumbled
00:44:37from
00:44:37the
00:44:38push,
00:44:38nearly
00:44:38falling
00:44:39over.
00:44:40Unable
00:44:41to bear
00:44:41it
00:44:41any
00:44:42longer,
00:44:42I
00:44:42ran
00:44:43into
00:44:43the
00:44:43bedroom,
00:44:44grabbed
00:44:44the
00:44:44contract
00:44:45from
00:44:45under
00:44:45my
00:44:45pillow
00:44:46and
00:44:46threw
00:44:46it
00:44:46fiercely
00:44:47onto
00:44:47the
00:44:47floor.
00:44:50Milo,
00:44:50get
00:44:51out!
00:44:52Ever
00:44:52since the
00:44:52time he
00:44:53bit me,
00:44:53I had been
00:44:54considering whether
00:44:55it was time
00:44:55to let
00:44:55go.
00:44:57But I
00:44:57always felt
00:44:58there was still
00:44:58room to
00:44:59salvage
00:44:59things.
00:45:01But now,
00:45:02he was still
00:45:03so unreasonable,
00:45:04still refusing
00:45:05to change.
00:45:07I
00:45:08couldn't
00:45:08see a
00:45:08single
00:45:09shred
00:45:09of
00:45:09hope
00:45:09in
00:45:09him.
00:45:10Milo
00:45:10let
00:45:11go.
00:45:12He
00:45:12stared
00:45:12blankly
00:45:13at the
00:45:13contract
00:45:14on the
00:45:14floor
00:45:14with his
00:45:15name
00:45:15on it.
00:45:16Then he
00:45:17looked up
00:45:17at me,
00:45:18his lips
00:45:18trembling.
00:45:21You're
00:45:21telling me
00:45:22to get
00:45:23out?
00:45:27I let
00:45:27out a
00:45:28deep sigh,
00:45:28composed my
00:45:29emotions,
00:45:30and bent
00:45:30down to
00:45:30pick up the
00:45:31certificate marking
00:45:32his belonging.
00:45:35I handed
00:45:36it over
00:45:36calmly.
00:45:38I'm asking
00:45:39you to leave,
00:45:40to set you
00:45:41free.
00:45:44sorry,
00:45:45my wording
00:45:46was inappropriate
00:45:47just now.
00:45:53Ezra
00:45:54reached out
00:45:54and tugged
00:45:55at my
00:45:55sleeve,
00:45:56his eyes
00:45:56full of
00:45:56worry as
00:45:57he stood
00:45:57in the
00:45:58middle
00:45:58to make
00:45:58peace.
00:46:01I'm
00:46:02sorry,
00:46:02please don't
00:46:03fight because
00:46:03of me.
00:46:07If my
00:46:07brother isn't
00:46:08happy with
00:46:08it,
00:46:08I'll move
00:46:09out.
00:46:11Just don't
00:46:11fight.
00:46:13It's not
00:46:13because of
00:46:14you.
00:46:15We were
00:46:16never meant
00:46:16to be
00:46:16together
00:46:17anyway.
00:46:18You should
00:46:19know,
00:46:19he never
00:46:20liked me
00:46:20from the
00:46:20very
00:46:21beginning.
00:46:23Letting
00:46:24him go
00:46:24is exactly
00:46:25what he
00:46:25wants.
00:46:28I
00:46:28explained
00:46:29expressionlessly,
00:46:30waving the
00:46:30contract in
00:46:31my hand to
00:46:32signal him
00:46:32to take
00:46:32it.
00:46:34But Milo
00:46:35stood there
00:46:36like a
00:46:36block of
00:46:36wood.
00:46:38Aside from
00:46:39his heavy,
00:46:40ragged
00:46:40breathing,
00:46:41he refused
00:46:41to lift
00:46:42a hand.
00:46:46Why aren't
00:46:47you saying
00:46:47anything?
00:46:50I was
00:46:51very
00:46:51confused.
00:46:53Was it
00:46:53wrong to
00:46:54let him
00:46:54go to?
00:46:55Milo's
00:46:55eyes turned
00:46:56red.
00:46:57It was
00:46:58the first
00:46:58time I
00:46:58had ever
00:46:59seen such
00:46:59a wronged
00:47:00expression on
00:47:01his face.
00:47:02The young
00:47:02man pursed
00:47:03his lips,
00:47:04trying desperately
00:47:04to hold
00:47:05back his
00:47:05emotions.
00:47:07He blinked
00:47:08and looked
00:47:08up at the
00:47:09ceiling,
00:47:09not wanting
00:47:10his tears
00:47:10to fall.
00:47:12But the
00:47:13teardrop still
00:47:13rolled down
00:47:14from the
00:47:14corners of
00:47:15his eyes.
00:47:22I didn't
00:47:23understand what
00:47:23there was to
00:47:24cry about.
00:47:26Ezra stood
00:47:26to the side
00:47:27and offered
00:47:28Milo a
00:47:28tissue.
00:47:30But he
00:47:31refused it,
00:47:32abruptly
00:47:32turning his
00:47:33face away.
00:47:36just ignore
00:47:36him.
00:47:40You go
00:47:40sleep in
00:47:41my bedroom
00:47:41first.
00:47:42At this
00:47:43moment,
00:47:43only Milo
00:47:44and I
00:47:44were left
00:47:45in the
00:47:45living room.
00:47:47I wanted
00:47:48to talk to
00:47:48him calmly.
00:47:50Even
00:47:51even though I
00:47:51don't know
00:47:51what you're
00:47:52feeling so
00:47:52wronged
00:47:53about,
00:47:54you won't
00:47:55be able to
00:47:55find a
00:47:55place to
00:47:56live if
00:47:56you go
00:47:56out now.
00:47:58You can
00:47:59stay here
00:47:59for now
00:47:59and leave
00:48:00whenever you
00:48:00find your
00:48:01next place.
00:48:02The man,
00:48:03who had
00:48:03been stubbornly
00:48:04holding back
00:48:05his words,
00:48:06suddenly burst
00:48:06out crying
00:48:07upon hearing
00:48:07me say
00:48:08this.
00:48:10How?
00:48:11How could
00:48:12you be like
00:48:12this?
00:48:13Milo covered
00:48:14his face
00:48:15with both
00:48:15hands,
00:48:16his voice
00:48:16slipping out
00:48:17intermittently
00:48:17through his
00:48:18fingers.
00:48:20Like what?
00:48:23Haven't I
00:48:24been good
00:48:24enough to
00:48:25you?
00:48:26I'm even
00:48:26letting you
00:48:27go.
00:48:27I tolerated
00:48:28all his
00:48:29tantrums and
00:48:30I gave him
00:48:30the freedom
00:48:30he wanted.
00:48:32Why was
00:48:33he never
00:48:33satisfied?
00:48:37But you
00:48:38spent
00:48:38eight hundred
00:48:39thousand
00:48:39trading all
00:48:40your money
00:48:40for me.
00:48:43Are you
00:48:44really
00:48:44willing
00:48:44to let
00:48:45me
00:48:45leave?
00:48:47I wasn't.
00:48:49His
00:48:50figure and
00:48:50looks were
00:48:51indeed
00:48:51excellent.
00:48:52I had
00:48:52chosen him
00:48:53after endless
00:48:53searching.
00:48:55But there
00:48:55was no
00:48:56other way.
00:48:57He was
00:48:58only suited
00:48:58to be
00:48:58pampered
00:48:59by a
00:48:59wealthy
00:48:59family.
00:49:01If you
00:49:02feel bad
00:49:03about it
00:49:03you can
00:49:03pay me
00:49:04back.
00:49:04Even
00:49:05just a
00:49:05small
00:49:05portion
00:49:06is fine.
00:49:07I said.
00:49:12Milo
00:49:13wiped
00:49:13his
00:49:13own
00:49:13tears
00:49:14away
00:49:14slowly
00:49:15inching
00:49:15closer
00:49:15until
00:49:16he
00:49:16rested
00:49:16his
00:49:16head
00:49:17on
00:49:17my
00:49:17shoulder.
00:49:20Don't
00:49:21abandon
00:49:21me
00:49:21just
00:49:21because
00:49:22you
00:49:22have
00:49:22my
00:49:22brother
00:49:23now.
00:49:23Okay?
00:49:25I pushed
00:49:26him away.
00:49:28Sigh.
00:49:29Why don't
00:49:29you understand?
00:49:32It's not
00:49:32because of
00:49:33your brother.
00:49:33For the
00:49:34next week
00:49:34I didn't
00:49:35speak a
00:49:35single
00:49:35word to
00:49:36Milo.
00:49:37Even
00:49:38though he
00:49:38acted like
00:49:39a completely
00:49:39different
00:49:39incubus
00:49:40taking the
00:49:41initiative
00:49:41to clean
00:49:42and do
00:49:42chores.
00:49:45And
00:49:45sleeping
00:49:46in the
00:49:46storage
00:49:46room
00:49:47at night
00:49:47without
00:49:47complaint.
00:49:49But I
00:49:49still urged
00:49:50him.
00:49:50You
00:49:51should
00:49:51go.
00:49:52You're
00:49:53just
00:49:53used
00:49:53to
00:49:53staying
00:49:53by
00:49:54my
00:49:54side
00:49:54and
00:49:55afraid
00:49:55to
00:49:55go
00:49:55out.
00:49:57When
00:49:57you
00:49:57actually
00:49:58go out
00:49:58and see
00:49:58the
00:49:58world
00:49:59you'll
00:49:59endingly
00:49:59lively
00:50:00more
00:50:00comfortable.
00:50:02Milo
00:50:02finally
00:50:03couldn't
00:50:03take
00:50:03it
00:50:03anymore.
00:50:05Grabbing
00:50:06his
00:50:06luggage
00:50:06he
00:50:07shot a
00:50:07glare
00:50:07at Ezra
00:50:08passing
00:50:08by
00:50:08and
00:50:09stormed
00:50:09out
00:50:09in a
00:50:10huff.
00:50:11Ezra
00:50:12watched
00:50:12the
00:50:12young
00:50:12man's
00:50:13back.
00:50:14After
00:50:15he had
00:50:15gone
00:50:15far
00:50:16he
00:50:16went
00:50:16back
00:50:16to
00:50:16earnestly
00:50:17wiping
00:50:17the
00:50:17table
00:50:18casually
00:50:18asking
00:50:22Chloe
00:50:22what do
00:50:23you want
00:50:23to eat
00:50:24for
00:50:24dinner?
00:50:27I'll
00:50:28go buy
00:50:28groceries
00:50:28in a
00:50:29bit.
00:50:30Waiting
00:50:31until the
00:50:31early
00:50:32hours of
00:50:32the
00:50:32morning
00:50:34Milo
00:50:34who
00:50:35had run
00:50:35away
00:50:35regretted
00:50:36it.
00:50:38Covered
00:50:39in
00:50:39dirt
00:50:39he
00:50:40squatted
00:50:40in
00:50:40the
00:50:40hallway
00:50:41crying
00:50:41secretly.
00:50:43Truly
00:50:44useless.
00:50:48I
00:50:49heard
00:50:49the
00:50:49noise
00:50:49but
00:50:49didn't
00:50:50open
00:50:50the
00:50:50door.
00:50:51I
00:50:52merely
00:50:52reminded
00:50:52Ezra
00:50:53that we
00:50:53were
00:50:53moving
00:50:54to
00:50:54our
00:50:54new
00:50:54home
00:50:54tomorrow.
00:50:56Milo
00:50:56slept
00:50:57leaning
00:50:57against
00:50:58the
00:50:58door
00:50:58all
00:50:58night.
00:51:00The
00:51:00next
00:51:00day
00:51:01he
00:51:01went
00:51:01out
00:51:01again
00:51:01to
00:51:02find
00:51:02his
00:51:02own
00:51:02way.
00:51:04Because
00:51:05of
00:51:05Ezra's
00:51:05arrival
00:51:06my
00:51:06life
00:51:06slowly
00:51:07began
00:51:07to
00:51:07improve.
00:51:08Every
00:51:09time I
00:51:09came
00:51:09back
00:51:10it
00:51:10was
00:51:10no
00:51:10longer
00:51:11a
00:51:11mess.
00:51:12But
00:51:13a
00:51:13clean
00:51:13and
00:51:14tidy
00:51:14house
00:51:14greeted
00:51:15by
00:51:15the
00:51:15mouth
00:51:15watering
00:51:16aroma
00:51:16of
00:51:16food.
00:51:18He
00:51:18even
00:51:18wanted
00:51:19to
00:51:19work
00:51:19at
00:51:19a
00:51:19bubble
00:51:20tea
00:51:20shop
00:51:20to
00:51:20help
00:51:20with
00:51:21household
00:51:21expenses.
00:51:23But
00:51:24I
00:51:24worried
00:51:24that
00:51:25standing
00:51:25for
00:51:25too
00:51:25long
00:51:26would
00:51:26harm
00:51:26his
00:51:26health.
00:51:29I
00:51:29can
00:51:29support
00:51:30you.
00:51:31You
00:51:32don't
00:51:32have
00:51:32to
00:51:32work
00:51:32so
00:51:33hard.
00:51:33But
00:51:34Ezra
00:51:35couldn't
00:51:35sit
00:51:35idle.
00:51:36Seeing
00:51:37people
00:51:37live
00:51:38streaming
00:51:38crafts
00:51:38and
00:51:39knitting
00:51:39scarves
00:51:39online,
00:51:40I
00:51:40bought
00:51:40him
00:51:40some
00:51:41craft
00:51:41materials
00:51:42and
00:51:42yarn.
00:51:43About
00:51:44another
00:51:44month
00:51:44passed.
00:51:47One
00:51:47evening
00:51:47after
00:51:48work,
00:51:48I
00:51:48came
00:51:48out
00:51:49of
00:51:49the
00:51:49company
00:51:49and
00:51:49saw
00:51:50Milo.
00:51:51He
00:51:52was a
00:51:52bit
00:51:52tanner,
00:51:53wearing
00:51:53work
00:51:53clothes
00:51:54and
00:51:54cotton
00:51:54linen
00:51:54gloves,
00:51:55looking
00:51:55like
00:51:56he
00:51:56had
00:51:56just
00:51:56finished
00:51:57a
00:51:57blue
00:51:57collar
00:51:57gig.
00:51:59He
00:51:59stretched
00:51:59his
00:52:00lips
00:52:00trying
00:52:00to
00:52:00greet
00:52:01me.
00:52:06As
00:52:06soon
00:52:06as
00:52:06Milo
00:52:07opened
00:52:07his
00:52:07mouth,
00:52:08the
00:52:08corners
00:52:08of
00:52:08his
00:52:09lips
00:52:09dropped.
00:52:11I've
00:52:11saved
00:52:12up some
00:52:12money
00:52:12to
00:52:12compensate
00:52:13you,
00:52:13master.
00:52:15Can I
00:52:15come
00:52:15see
00:52:16you
00:52:16every
00:52:16month
00:52:16from
00:52:16now
00:52:16on?
00:52:19Seeing
00:52:19Milo's
00:52:20eyes
00:52:20full of
00:52:20exhaustion
00:52:21now,
00:52:21I didn't
00:52:22have the
00:52:22heart
00:52:22to
00:52:22refuse
00:52:23again.
00:52:26Alright,
00:52:26if paying
00:52:27me back
00:52:28gives you
00:52:28peace of
00:52:28mind,
00:52:29then I'll
00:52:30accept it.
00:52:31Also,
00:52:32I am no
00:52:33longer your
00:52:33master.
00:52:35After
00:52:35returning
00:52:35home,
00:52:36Ezra
00:52:36squatted
00:52:37down with
00:52:37a smile,
00:52:38untying
00:52:38my shoelaces
00:52:39for me.
00:52:40He
00:52:40was like
00:52:40this
00:52:41every
00:52:41time,
00:52:42serving
00:52:42me
00:52:42with
00:52:42the
00:52:42utmost
00:52:43care.
00:52:44Even
00:52:45if I
00:52:45told him
00:52:45it wasn't
00:52:46necessary,
00:52:47he would
00:52:47still do
00:52:47it the
00:52:48next
00:52:48day.
00:52:50Did
00:52:50my
00:52:50brother
00:52:51come
00:52:51looking
00:52:51for
00:52:52you
00:52:52again?
00:52:53The man
00:52:53touched
00:52:54my ankle,
00:52:55his gaze
00:52:55traveling upward,
00:52:57his sense
00:52:58of dependence
00:52:58on me
00:52:59growing ever
00:52:59stronger.
00:53:02He wants
00:53:03to pay me
00:53:04back.
00:53:06Just
00:53:06paying you
00:53:07back?
00:53:07Ezra said,
00:53:09still wearing
00:53:09a smile.
00:53:11Chloe,
00:53:12don't
00:53:13see him
00:53:13again.
00:53:14Let
00:53:15him
00:53:15fend
00:53:15for
00:53:16himself.
00:53:17My
00:53:18hand
00:53:18holding
00:53:18the
00:53:18water
00:53:19glass
00:53:19paused.
00:53:20For
00:53:20a
00:53:20moment,
00:53:21I
00:53:21couldn't
00:53:21answer.
00:53:24Then,
00:53:25the man
00:53:25took out
00:53:25the scarf
00:53:26he had
00:53:26knitted
00:53:26from the
00:53:27cabinet
00:53:27and gently
00:53:28wrapped
00:53:28it around
00:53:28my
00:53:29neck.
00:53:36Try
00:53:36it
00:53:36on.
00:53:38Do
00:53:38you
00:53:38like
00:53:39it?
00:53:40If
00:53:41you
00:53:41don't
00:53:41like
00:53:41it,
00:53:42I'll
00:53:42take
00:53:43it
00:53:43and
00:53:43burn
00:53:43it.
00:53:44Then
00:53:44knit
00:53:44a
00:53:45new
00:53:45one.
00:53:45My
00:53:46heart
00:53:46skipped
00:53:46a
00:53:46beat
00:53:47and
00:53:47I
00:53:47hesitated
00:53:47before
00:53:48speaking.
00:53:50Ezra,
00:53:51how about
00:53:52you go
00:53:52out and
00:53:53find a
00:53:53job?
00:53:54Ezra
00:53:54lowered
00:53:54his
00:53:55voice.
00:53:56Are
00:53:56you
00:53:56getting
00:53:56annoyed
00:53:57with
00:53:57me?
00:53:58It
00:53:59wasn't
00:53:59that I
00:53:59found
00:54:00him
00:54:00annoying,
00:54:00but
00:54:01rather
00:54:01that he
00:54:01was
00:54:01getting
00:54:02increasingly
00:54:02clingy.
00:54:06You're
00:54:06making
00:54:06me
00:54:07too
00:54:07much
00:54:07of
00:54:07a
00:54:07priority
00:54:08and
00:54:09it's
00:54:09going
00:54:09to
00:54:09ruin
00:54:09your
00:54:10own
00:54:10mood.
00:54:13But
00:54:14you
00:54:14are
00:54:14important.
00:54:18I'd
00:54:18only
00:54:18be
00:54:18sad
00:54:19if
00:54:19you
00:54:19didn't
00:54:19let
00:54:19me
00:54:19focus
00:54:20on
00:54:20you.
00:54:24In
00:54:24the
00:54:24middle
00:54:24of
00:54:25the
00:54:25night,
00:54:25Ezra
00:54:25would
00:54:25always
00:54:26hold
00:54:26me
00:54:26tight.
00:54:27As
00:54:28if
00:54:28terrified,
00:54:28I
00:54:28might
00:54:29suddenly
00:54:29run
00:54:29away.
00:54:30He
00:54:31even
00:54:31questioned
00:54:31me
00:54:32when
00:54:32I
00:54:32went
00:54:32to
00:54:32the
00:54:32bathroom.
00:54:34I
00:54:35had
00:54:35to
00:54:35wait
00:54:35until
00:54:36daytime
00:54:36when
00:54:36I
00:54:37went
00:54:37to
00:54:37the
00:54:37office
00:54:37to
00:54:37look
00:54:38up
00:54:38his
00:54:38reactions
00:54:38online.
00:54:40Some
00:54:41experts
00:54:41said
00:54:42this
00:54:42was
00:54:42typical
00:54:42emotional
00:54:43paranoia
00:54:43caused
00:54:44by a
00:54:44lack
00:54:44of
00:54:44love.
00:54:47If
00:54:48not
00:54:48corrected
00:54:48in
00:54:48time,
00:54:49it
00:54:49would
00:54:49only
00:54:49get
00:54:50worse
00:54:50later
00:54:50on.
00:54:51Sure
00:54:52enough,
00:54:52sometimes
00:54:53when I
00:54:53was
00:54:53sleeping
00:54:54soundly
00:54:54at
00:54:54night,
00:54:55I
00:54:55would
00:54:55hear
00:54:55Ezra
00:54:55wake
00:54:56up
00:54:56terrified
00:54:56from
00:54:57a
00:54:57nightmare.
00:55:02A
00:55:02grown
00:55:02man,
00:55:03trembling
00:55:03all
00:55:04over,
00:55:04burrowing
00:55:05into
00:55:05my
00:55:05arms.
00:55:07I
00:55:08quickly
00:55:08patted
00:55:08his
00:55:08back,
00:55:09telling
00:55:09him
00:55:09I
00:55:09was
00:55:10there.
00:55:12Ezra
00:55:12looked
00:55:12up.
00:55:15Will
00:55:15you
00:55:15throw
00:55:16me
00:55:16away
00:55:16in
00:55:16the
00:55:16future
00:55:16too?
00:55:20No,
00:55:20of
00:55:20course
00:55:21not.
00:55:22But
00:55:22you
00:55:22got
00:55:23off
00:55:23work
00:55:23half
00:55:23an
00:55:23hour
00:55:23later
00:55:24than
00:55:24usual
00:55:24today.
00:55:25Did
00:55:26you
00:55:26take
00:55:26in
00:55:26another
00:55:26incubus?
00:55:28Can
00:55:28you
00:55:28tell
00:55:29me?
00:55:29I
00:55:30don't
00:55:30mind,
00:55:31but
00:55:31could
00:55:31you
00:55:32just
00:55:32tell
00:55:32me
00:55:32first?
00:55:33I
00:55:34patiently
00:55:34explained
00:55:35why
00:55:35I
00:55:35was
00:55:35half
00:55:35an
00:55:36hour
00:55:36late.
00:55:37Although
00:55:37Ezra
00:55:38said,
00:55:39I
00:55:40believe
00:55:40you.
00:55:42His
00:55:42eyes
00:55:43still
00:55:43looked
00:55:43anxious.
00:55:45The
00:55:45people-pleasing
00:55:46incubus
00:55:47gradually
00:55:47turned
00:55:47into
00:55:48a
00:55:48love-begging
00:55:49incubus.
00:55:50And
00:55:51he
00:55:51was
00:55:51always
00:55:52overly
00:55:52suspicious.
00:55:54The
00:55:55following
00:55:55month,
00:55:56Milo
00:55:56arrived
00:55:57right
00:55:57on
00:55:57time
00:55:57to
00:55:57repay
00:55:58the
00:55:58money.
00:56:00I
00:56:00hadn't
00:56:00seen
00:56:01him
00:56:01in
00:56:01a
00:56:01while
00:56:01and
00:56:02he
00:56:02had
00:56:02gotten
00:56:02a bit
00:56:02bulkier
00:56:03from his
00:56:03blue-collar
00:56:04gig.
00:56:06Master,
00:56:06I made
00:56:07$20,000
00:56:08this month.
00:56:11Here you go.
00:56:12His tone
00:56:13was proud.
00:56:15Meanwhile,
00:56:16I was so sleepy
00:56:17I couldn't keep my eyes
00:56:18open, having been kept
00:56:19awake all night
00:56:20by Ezra's fussing.
00:56:25Are you planning to give it
00:56:26all back to me?
00:56:31Keep some for yourself.
00:56:33I yawned.
00:56:35I don't have a sense of taste,
00:56:37so just eating some plain white rice
00:56:39to fill my stomach is fine.
00:56:40It doesn't cost much.
00:56:43Milo had really changed a lot.
00:56:47I simply couldn't connect
00:56:49the young man
00:56:49standing in front of me
00:56:50with the shrew
00:56:51who was yelling at me
00:56:52two months ago.
00:56:55Just as I was about
00:56:56to take the money,
00:56:57my phone rang.
00:57:00Hold on.
00:57:03Hello, Ezra.
00:57:04What's up?
00:57:05Why hasn't Master
00:57:06come back yet?
00:57:07Did you go
00:57:08see someone else?
00:57:11I'm just asking
00:57:12casually.
00:57:13It's okay if you
00:57:14don't want to tell me.
00:57:15I was utterly exhausted.
00:57:20Milo just came
00:57:21to pay me back today,
00:57:22that's all.
00:57:25Oh, then who was
00:57:27the male colleague
00:57:28that gave you flowers
00:57:29yesterday?
00:57:30The male colleague
00:57:31who gave me flowers
00:57:32yesterday?
00:57:34How did he know?
00:57:36I threw those flowers
00:57:38straight into the trash
00:57:39can downstairs
00:57:39at the office
00:57:40right after receiving them.
00:57:43I hung up the phone
00:57:44with a complicated
00:57:45expression.
00:57:49Milo hadn't left yet,
00:57:50he said.
00:57:55My brother's been
00:57:56stalking you
00:57:56these billion
00:57:57these past few days.
00:57:59I was shocked.
00:58:01How do you know?
00:58:06Because when I wasn't
00:58:07working,
00:58:08I'd secretly come
00:58:08to see you too
00:58:09and I bumped
00:58:09into him.
00:58:11I told you
00:58:12he was manipulative.
00:58:13I irritably
00:58:14told Milo
00:58:15to shut up.
00:58:19So what if
00:58:19he's manipulative?
00:58:22He's still
00:58:23better than you.
00:58:24In the third month
00:58:25after moving
00:58:26to the new house,
00:58:27I really couldn't
00:58:28stand Ezra's
00:58:29paranoid attention
00:58:29anymore.
00:58:31Even when I went
00:58:32grocery shopping
00:58:33and passed
00:58:34by the seafood section.
00:58:36He would
00:58:37carefully sniff
00:58:38my scent
00:58:38when I got back.
00:58:42Asking why
00:58:42I smelled
00:58:43like rotten
00:58:44fish and shrimp
00:58:44and if I was
00:58:45planning to keep
00:58:46another mermaid.
00:58:50So,
00:58:51I accepted
00:58:51Milo's idea
00:58:52and simply
00:58:53confirmed
00:58:53Ezra's suspicions.
00:58:58Actually,
00:58:59I still have
00:58:59lingering feelings
00:59:00for Milo.
00:59:04Would you agree
00:59:05to let me
00:59:05keep him again?
00:59:07Otherwise,
00:59:07I'll always be
00:59:08tempted to keep
00:59:08some other
00:59:09kind of incubetta.
00:59:12That night,
00:59:13Ezra cried
00:59:14for a long time,
00:59:15constantly muttering.
00:59:18I knew it.
00:59:20I guessed right.
00:59:22I just knew it.
00:59:25But after crying,
00:59:26he calmed down.
00:59:30Then you'd better
00:59:30just keep Milo.
00:59:32At least he's stupid.
00:59:35If you bring in
00:59:36a new species,
00:59:36I'm afraid
00:59:37I'll be able
00:59:37to compete.
00:59:39Me.
00:59:42As expected
00:59:43of twins,
00:59:43they have each
00:59:44other's minds
00:59:44figured out
00:59:45so thoroughly.
00:59:46Well,
00:59:47it turns out
00:59:48they only behave
00:59:49when they keep
00:59:49each other in check.
00:59:52Sigh.
00:59:53I finally found
00:59:54the right way
00:59:54to raise them.
00:59:55to raise them.
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