It was impossible to ignore the problem anymore. With Ray’s condition as it was, there was no way to hide it. They could delay the old master’s visit this ti, maybe even one more ti after that, but what then? The truth was bound to co out eventually, and worse, they might try to et Ray without her even knowing.
She needed a plan, sothing that would stop them from coming back. But it wasn’t just about keeping them away. She had to ensure Ray stayed close to her, where she could keep him safe. The thought twisted and turned in her mind until an idea, strange and unsettling, began to form.
What if Ray "died"? If everyone believed he was gone, the old master and anyone else wouldn’t have a reason to co looking for him. It would end their visits for good. But it wasn’t just about the deception. She could use their suspicion to her advantage, turning their curiosity into a trap of her own making.
Everything was going smoothly, just as planned. But then Es saw the lifeless body in the room—the one she had staged herself. She had ticulously created the scene, every detail crafted to perfection. Yet, as she stood there, matchstick in hand, ready to set it all ablaze, her body refused to move.
The image of Cain’s dead body flashed vividly in her mind, dragging her back to that haunting mont. The air felt heavy, suffocating, as mories clawed their way to the surface. The lifeless body on the ground blurred with the mories of another, and she was paralyzed, unable to move forward or back.
It was Ryan who broke through her haze. He appeared silently behind her, striking a matchstick with practiced ease. Before she could react, he tossed it into the room, the flas greedily devouring the scene she had created. Then, without a word, he covered her eyes with his hand, shielding her from the sight she couldn’t bear to face.
If not for Ryan, the plan would have unraveled entirely. Back in the present, Es clung tightly to Ray’s waist, her trembling hands betraying her fear. She was terrified—terrified of how close she had co to losing herself in the mont. More than that, the thought that the lifeless body could one day be Ray’s consud her. If she wasn’t careful, if she didn’t go through with this plan, soone might truly kill him. And if that ever happened, she didn’t know how she would go on living.
The fear gripped her so tightly that she pressed herself closer to him, as if anchoring herself to reality. Just as she was trying to calm the storm of emotions within her, she felt it—a soft, small kick against her face. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. Slowly, she turned her head toward Ray, her wide eyes searching his face for answers. But the mont left her too stunned to say anything, her heart pounding harder than ever.
Ray froze, his breath catching as his hand instinctively moved to his stomach. His wide eyes stayed locked on it, as though trying to comprehend the impossible. His expression was a collision of shock and disbelief, and for a mont, the room seed to hold its breath along with him.
Ryan and Kai, watching from across the room, exchanged worried glances. Ryan’s brows furrowed, his concern deepening by the second. Without hesitation, he rushed over, his disheveled appearance matching the frantic energy in his steps.
"Ray, what’s wrong?" Ryan started, his voice tight, almost stumbling over his words. But before he could get an answer, Es and Ray turned to him at the sa ti, their faces alight with astonishnt.
"It kicked," they said in unison, their tones trembling with a mixture of disbelief and wonder.
The room went silent, the gravity of those two words sinking in. Ryan froze mid-step, his jaw slack. Kai blinked rapidly, as if trying to process what he’d just heard.
"What?" Kai’s voice finally broke the silence, but it was shaky, uncertain, and laced with the sa disbelief that mirrored on everyone’s face.
And then, as if a light had pierced through the haze of confusion, Es’s lips curved into a slow, radiant smile. Her hand rested gently on Ray’s stomach, her voice soft but filled with a profound joy.
"The baby kicked."
Hearing Es’s words, everyone froze in place, their eyes shifting from her face to Ray’s stomach. The room was so quiet that even the faintest sound seed amplified. Slowly, Es bent down, her movents hurried yet filled with a mix of excitent and disbelief. She pressed her cheek gently against Ray’s belly, her breath catching as she waited.
And then it happened again—a small, distinct kick. Her eyes lit up, and she sat up quickly, almost bouncing in place.
"See? See? He kicked!" she exclaid, her voice bubbling with joy.
The others exchanged hesitant glances, doubt flickering in their expressions. Could it really be? Still, their curiosity and disbelief compelled them to move closer. The Aron brothers approached cautiously, their steps slow and unsure. Standing by Ray’s side, they hesitated, glancing at one another in uncertainty. None of them knew how to proceed—how to touch his stomach without feeling awkward or intrusive.
Ray noticed their hesitation and let out a soft laugh, his previous shock giving way to a sense of warmth. Without a word, he reached out, taking one of his brothers’ hands, then another, guiding them both to rest on his belly.
"Here," he said quietly, his tone filled with a quiet confidence that steadied the room.
They waited, their palms pressed lightly against his stomach, the air thick with anticipation. For a mont, nothing happened, and the brothers exchanged nervous glances. But then, like a tiny spark of life announcing itself, they felt it—a soft, delicate movent followed by a light kick.
It wasn’t just a sensation; it was a ssage. It was as if the baby was saying, I’m here too.
The brothers’ eyes widened in amazent, their initial worry lting into pure awe. For a mont, they forgot their hesitation, replaced by a growing sense of connection to the life they had just felt. The room was filled with a shared silence, not of shock, but of wonder.
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