"It went on like this and another five years passed, but this year, we finally made a breakthrough. We changed our plans, and this time, we were able to get Alex and his friends. We got rid of him and took SOHO back. All this happened at the beginning of this year, so it took us months to get SOHO back and make it stronger.""When everything was settled, we contacted you. We could not endure it anymore, after all the years of hardship, we were too eager to wait, so the moment everything was settled, we wanted to see you instantly.""It's been so long, but you've not changed." Liam finished his explanation and swallowed while looking at Ivan, waiting for his reaction.Elena looked at Ivan worriedly. She was concerned when she saw the calm look on her son's face. She wanted him to say something, but he was just quiet, and that was exactly what she was scared of the most. She did not want to see the look of judgment or blame on his face towards them, and at the same time, she also did no
Ivan was so young and naive at that time. If his parents had really told him the truth, he would not have been able to keep his mouth shut and keep the secret to himself.As a kid, he would have wanted to brag about it to his friends. No one might believe him, but people would start talking because there was no way a child would lie about something like that unless he was explicitly told. And with that, everything would be ruined within the blink of an eye, and his parents wouldn't be able to hide anymore.His parents had no other choice but to keep the matter from him. Moreover, his life was in danger, and they had to be cautious about their moves.He was their only child then, and the only child they could have. Imagine the kind of distress they would have to go through with this thought in mind. He was even very weak from childhood; a small force was enough to injure him. So he would not be able to handle the stress that comes with running around with his parents to avoid any bad t
"Yes Ivan, we had no choice then, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us," Liam said earnestly."We know that we made a mistake and we do not have any excuse to give. It's our fault from the beginning, and we should not have created SOHO when we knew of the danger that accompanied it. We were just too impulsive. When we realized that it was going so smoothly, we were very happy and we ignored all the risks.""Everything was going smoothly from the beginning, so we thought that it would continue that way due to our naivety and negligence. We did not know that the person we trusted the most would be the person to betray us. We should have been more careful. You can blame us all you want; we are ready to shoulder all the blame.""We are so sorry for not being there for you when you needed us the most. We are so sorry for making you do everything alone at such a young age. We are so sorry for not carrying out our responsibilities as your parents. But please, can you give us a
Ivan felt relieved after addressing something that had been on his mind for years. He was still not accustomed to the fact that he came from an affluent family, but he believed that with time, he would grow accustomed to it.For now, he wanted to cherish every moment with his parents and make up for the time they had spent apart."So, how have you been? Are you okay?" Elena asked eagerly. Ivan looked into her bright eyes and realized she was overjoyed to see him.When Ivan remained quiet, Elena became tense and tried to recall what she might have said wrong. She couldn't remember saying anything hurtful, but Ivan's reaction made it seem like she had.Elena looked at her husband, hoping for assistance. Liam understood her internal conflict just by looking into her eyes, so he spoke up on her behalf."Don't worry about your mother. She's just too happy and not mindful of her words." Liam said cautiously. He didn't want Ivan to feel bad or inferior. He blamed himself for not providing hi
"All the strange things started happening after that, and I couldn't even stop them. Afterward, I also realized that my brain had advanced, and I discovered that I have a photographic memory. My brain was enhanced, as if I had an AI in my head," Ivan explained grimly.Recalling what the ring had done made his expression solemn. He couldn't keep everything to himself, especially since his parents were the ones who had given him the ring. He trusted them.However, as soon as he finished speaking, he failed to notice the strange look of happiness on his parents' faces.Instead of being shocked as Ivan had expected, they seemed to be unreasonably happy upon hearing the news.As the couple sat facing each other, a subtle change in their demeanor hinted at an underlying excitement. Although their expressions remained composed, they couldn't hide the happiness that had recently ignited within them.Their bodies, on the other hand, betrayed the euphoria flowing through their veins. Their init
"You said that the ring is too weak and can't perform all its functions. Why is it weak? It is not broken or anything, so what do you mean by that? And also, you said that it would not hurt me, but I felt a terrifying pain at a time like that before my powers were even activated or something. And how did you connect to the ring when it's not Wi-Fi? Is the ring a new mechanical AI or something? But is there really a ring that can give superpowers?"Ivan's temples wrinkled, forming deep lines on his brow. His once bright and inquisitive eyes now held a flicker of bewilderment. It seemed as if a veil of confusion had descended upon him, clouding his understanding of the current situation.His mind raced, desperately trying to grasp the intricacies of the explanation that had been presented to him.A furrowed brow and a slight tilt of the head revealed his deep contemplation, as if he were trying to rearrange the puzzle pieces of his comprehension. His gaze, unfocused and distant, searche
"The ring is not mechanical or some AI. It is even more than that. The pain you felt when the ring was activated was due to the fact that it just activated and was synchronizing with your mind. Before the ring can do all it did, it needed to be in perfect sync with you and your brain. It will be as if something foreign was entering it, so of course, it would hurt. But after the syncing, you will notice that the pain left and you felt rejuvenated. So, that is just it," Liam explained, and Ivan nodded his head.As Ivan found himself in the midst of a discussion where reality remained tricky, his curiosity grew stronger by the minute. Contemplations rushed through his mind, each one a burning question asking for answers.Nevertheless, despite his mind-boggling interest, he made a choice to exercise patience.But still, it was as if an internal conflict unfurled inside him. On one hand, his unquenchable craving for answers pulled at him, encouraging him to request the truth. However, on t
It was at that moment when Elena noticed that Ivan's expression seemed a bit off. Previously, if she and Liam were arguing like that, he would have smiled helplessly and intervened, but now he did not.Ivan's gaze fixated on a distant point. His mind drifted away from the present as a disheartening memory overwhelmed his thoughts. Concerned, his parents sat close by, offering a comforting presence amidst his unrest.As he stared into space, his temple wrinkled, and his eyes grew distant. The weight of the memory was evident in his tormented expression. It was as if he had been transported back to that moment, reliving the grief once more.Sensing his pain, his parents exchanged concerned glances. Unable to bear it any longer, Elena reached out, offering support and understanding. Unexpectedly, Ivan found the relief he had been yearning for in Elena's touch and their presence.Their presence became a source of comfort during his time of need. His parents understood that sometimes all o