Drops of water pitter-pattered against Ryan’s body. It felt good, like a thousand little massages, before they left wet patches and soaked him to the bone. His clothes clung to him like a second skin, and Ryan was glad that cold was the only thing he could feel. Howard Ashford had made a comeback into his life, barging and intruding. Now that he had a taste of freedom and to be his own person, his hated father returned to remind him of it all. A flash of red from the past crossed his mind, blinding him in an instant before another cold splash from the rain grounded him. It had almost been an hour since he stood under the cloudy, mourning sky. The rain itself, it almost felt like his current emotion now. Such coldness brings nothing but bad memories. Ryan didn’t want to remember his whole past, his whole bleak childhood. However, Violet’s presence through it all was the only bright thing in his past. And so, like a pathetic being, he wanted to remember it all – just for the sake of
Ryan couldn’t think straight. His mind kept reverting to his past, where he was nothing more than a punching bag for his own father. Days spent in the cold, dark room, hiding from the nightmare that could come to him even when the sky was bright and his eyes open. If he could get out before the beating session began, then he’d go to the woods behind their house. It had been seven days since his father returned to his life. It had been three days since the stack of papers sat in the corner of his room, where the Crowne’s house assistants used to stay. It had been three days since Howard’s assistant, Devon Kev, started calling him twice a day to ask if he had signed the documents Howard left behind. “I told you, I will never sign it!” Ryan said to his phone loudly before he ended the call. He didn’t know where Devon got his number, but it was to be expected. The Ashford wouldn’t be such a fearful family if they couldn’t even track someone’s number. However, unlike before, Devon didn
Ryan woke to a banging sound. He groggily opened his eyes, flinching as bright light attacked him at once.'Where am I?'TEETS didn't answer him, either because the System didn't have a GPS feature or because it had no obligation to tell him that.'What happened? I know I'm in a good health, so how could someone attacked me from behind when Danger Void is always active?'[Danger Void is an Ability to automatically dodge any physical attack on Host. However, it is only effective against one opponent only.]'Seriously? How could you never mention that Danger Void couldn't save me from two or more attackers at one?'[…]'Don't tell me you deliberately keep that information from me?' Ryan grumbled to himself. 'Is that why you're not as good as other System out there?'[…]Before he could berate the misleading System any further, he heard footsteps through the darkness in front."Oh, look who's just wake
It had been hours since Violet sat in her Porsche, staring at nothing but an abandoned warehouse about a mile from the port. No one else was in sight, but she knew at least three people were inside, somewhere, doing who knows what.The sky darkened, displaying orange and reddish colors from the sunset.Indeed, it was beautiful.If only she was somewhere else with Ashton or whoever she could sleep with later. Not that she didn't love him anymore, but Violet wanted to take a break from her relationship with the scandalous actor. In fact, she hadn't seen him since she left for London a few weeks ago.However, her current problem at hand was not about Ashton Bogart and his reckless behavior."Where are you, scum?" she murmured, annoyed and slightly regretting her decision to come here in the first place.For hours.She had been waiting here, in the middle of nowhere, for hours, just because she was curious about what Ryan would do.
Ryan had tested this kind of rush once, with Jared Crowne as his opponent.The empty road, left untraveled, had been their witness. It looked like a one-sided fight, with the arrogant CEO who kept attacking without landing a hit and Ryan, who always dodged without attacking even once. He turned the tide once and for all, after Jared lost all his energy and couldn’t move efficiently anymore.Using the same tactics when he fought Florent and succeeded, he utilized it again to fight Edric Ashford. It was kind of repetitive and boring, to be honest, but it was the only thing he could do at the moment. He swore, he had to get his shit together and learn how to fight like a man.But, that was for later thought.Now, with Edric trying to land hit after hit despite the impossibility, he had to figure things out for now.“How did you get the cuffs off?” the scarred half-brother asked after his ninth attack couldn’t reach him.“Curious now?” Ryan smirked. “Maybe I learned a thing or two from Ho
"Hahahahahaha!"A laugh, laced with a poisonous tone with an evil smirk accompanied. Edric was like an addict on a high, losing all logic, and becoming a maniac. The impeccably dressed man no longer looked like a perfect almighty figure, charming people with a smile or two in ease. All gone in an instant, as if the devil himself spoke to him with an offer for a throne.Ryan narrowed his eyes, worrying internally at the sudden change. Something must have happened.Violet–"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Edric lifted his arm, fingers folded, imitating a gun, firing air at him. "That's the sound of victory.""You're bluffing. Violet is nowhere near this, why would she? Besides, if she is indeed here, she can take care of herself.""Hmm?" Edric's smirk widened, "Will you say so when my loyal dog come here with his prey?"And true to his words, footsteps soon resounded in the empty dark warehouse. Ryan picked up two sets of footsteps, one with h
Ryan tapped his fingers on the clothed dining table. The glass of water in front of him reflected his sullen face, a contrast against the happy and calm atmosphere in the restaurant.“Do you want to order now, sir?” a server holding a menu book in her hand asked for the third time since he came here. He could see the annoyance hidden under her carefully displayed smile.Shaking his head, Ryan truthfully said, “I’m waiting for someone. But I’d be happy if you could get me a paper and a pen. Please?”The server went back inside and returned with his desired items. Ryan thanked her.The server nodded and repeated the exact words from before. “I will be right over there when you want to order, sir. Please excuse me.”With all of those polite words, Ryan wanted nothing more than to stay oblivious. Blissful ignorance, if only he could retain that.However, his life now forced him to read under the li
“If you have anything to do with Rayven’s refusal,” Howard Ashford said, “Then I’d be really disappointed in you, Edric.”“I don’t.”Ryan knew when Edric was lying. But, Howard didn’t.“Then, I believe–“Smack!Someone slapped Howard Ashford’s face. Shocking him, shocking both Ryan and Edric.“Who the hell–“ Edric said the moment he broke out of his shocked trance, “You bitch! How dare you hit my father?!”Brown, wide eyes turned to the newcomer. A beautiful blonde girl stood rigidly, both fists balled by her side. Her fair skin flushed, bringing a red colour to her face at how angry she was.“Howard Ashford!”Ryan gulped, staring in horror as the event unfolded. “Violet…”She didn’t even glance at him. Her furious blue eyes were locked on the oldest in the private