The three of them exclaimed in unison, disbelief turning into almost manic joy the moment they processed it.
"Son, your legs really feel pain now? You've regained sensation, haven't you?" Olivia grabbed the corner of Jason's clothes, asking excitedly.
Halley was so overwhelmed that he was nearly on his knees. "Brother, is this real?"
Jason gripped both sides of his wheelchair until his knuckles turned white. Even so, it couldn't erase the wild joy surging through him. "Yes. I can feel pain in my upper thighs faint yet dense. It hurts so much. This is a kind of pain I haven't felt in three years. It's unfamiliar… yet strangely familiar."
"Mom, does this mean my brother might be able to stand up again?" Halley stared intently at Olivia.
Olivia glanced at Mrs. Jamaica Richart, who was still trembling with excitement. "Yes, yes, once there's sensation, he'll be able to stand again… That's right, it must be the medicine prescribed by Dr. Bailey. It has to be those medicines."
Thinking of that young female doctor, Jason's eyes immediately lit up.
A quack? How could she be? She was a miracle doctor.
"Mom, let's go to the hospital tomorrow." Jason gently stroked his legs, now so thin they were little more than skin and bones. For the first time in three years, he found himself liking these legs.
At last… they could be cured.
"Mom, where did you all find that incredible doctor?" Halley suddenly asked, curiosity flaring.
But Olivia and Mrs. Jamaica Richart were still immersed in their joy and soon returned to the inner rooms amid cheers.
Halley wanted to ask his brother as well, only to realize Jason had already gone back to his room.
"Good grief, could it be that in this whole house, I'm the only one who knows nothing? What happened to family affection?"
…
The next morning, just as the Richart family rushed to the hospital, Captian and I had already left the villa for the airport.
Because this trip involved work, Ronan and Hunter came along to handle professional matters. The two of them were both assistants and bodyguards and incredibly "versatile," capable of everything from fighting to carrying luggage. With them around, I felt inexplicably reassured.
I brought quite a lot of daily necessities. In the end, every single suitcase large and small was piled onto Ronan. From left hand to right hand, shoulder to back, they hung everywhere. He looked like a walking Christmas tree, festooned with luggage.
I rubbed my nose, feeling both embarrassed and amused. "Ronan, how about I carry some of it myself?"
At that, Ronan jolted in alarm and immediately tightened his grip on the suitcase handles as if I were about to snatch his very life away. He straightened up, forcing himself upright even though his legs were trembling under the weight and squeezed out a professional smile. "No need, Sister-in-law! This little bit… it's not heavy at all."
The moment he finished speaking, the suitcase wheels beneath him tilted to one side, nearly dragging him along with them. Ronan staggered and hurriedly planted his foot to steady himself. Cold sweat silently slid down his temples but he still stubbornly maintained the look of "I'm fine."
Seeing that, I didn't dare say another word, silently deciding that next time I absolutely had to pack lighter… or Ronan might collapse right there at the airport.
At that moment, I felt a cold gaze sweep past.
It was Captian.
The air around us seemed to freeze instantly. Ronan's legs nearly went weak, his face visibly paling. He clutched the suitcases as if clinging to life itself, cold sweat pouring down. "It's really not heavy, Sister-in-law! Just leave it to me! Think of me as your all-purpose assistant!"
I glanced at him and didn't insist any further.
Since the tickets were already booked, it wasn't long before we boarded the plane and were seated in first class.
The first-class cabin was so luxurious that I froze for a moment. The sofa seats were wide and cloud-soft, with a separate bed in front. A bottle of premium red wine sat on the small table, warm yellow lighting casting a glow that made it feel like a lavish living room suspended in the air.
I had never flown first class before.
So I looked left and right, curious like a little rabbit dropped into an unfamiliar world. Everything felt new from the large windows to the faint scent in the air.
I didn't realize that all of these expressions were falling into Captian's eyes.
He lightly licked his lips, his gaze gradually heating up. Even the temperature in the cabin seemed to rise with that look.
I blinked, a little puzzled, why did it suddenly feel so hot?
"Why aren't you wearing it?"
Captian's voice rang out abruptly.
I turned to look at him and saw his gaze fixed firmly on me. Only then did I realize he was referring to the red dress.
His expression darkened instantly.
I immediately composed myself and explained, "That red dress feels too formal. Mr. Captian, we're going to handle work, not attend a banquet… wearing it feels a bit inappropriate."
His expression didn't improve.
Sensing danger, I hurried to placate him. "But… I did bring it with me. There are only the two of us in first class. If you want, I can put it on for you now, would that be okay?"
The moment I said it, I regretted it.
Why was I being such a people-pleaser?!
Captian's eyes, which had been dark, instantly flared with heat. Yet his face remained calm as he gave a slight nod, as if it didn't matter much.
The first-class cabin had a private restroom.
I hugged the red dress and almost fled inside.
The moment I put it on, it hugged my waist perfectly, the exquisite cut accentuating every curve. The deep red made me look more mature, more alluring completely different from my usual self.
I tugged lightly at the hem, feeling unaccustomed, then stepped out.
At the slightest sound, Captian lifted his head.
His gaze turned instantly feral, so deep and intense it felt as though he wanted to devour me. He clenched the wineglass in his hand so tightly that I felt if he used even a bit more force, it would shatter.
A sense of danger I had never felt before surged up.
More dangerous than any time before.
"Mr. Captian…?" I stopped in my tracks.
The spaghetti-strap dress revealed my smooth shoulders, the red highlighting my blindingly fair skin. His eyes looked exactly like a wild beast locking onto its prey.
"Come here."
His voice was low and hoarse dangerous.
Instinctively, I stepped back. If I'd had a shell, I would've hidden inside it long ago.
Captian didn't wait. He advanced step by step, forcing me against the wall. His masculine scent, heavy with hormones, filled the narrow space.
I was so frightened my eyes reddened. "Captian… please move…"
His gaze fell on my face. In that instant, all the agitation within him seemed to be doused.
The dangerous atmosphere vanished.
He bent down and lightly bit the tear mole at the corner of my eye.
I gasped in pain, so painful!
"Change into something else." His heat brushed against my ear.
I didn't dare ask anything more, immediately retreating into the restroom, my heart racing.
That just now… had been truly terrifying.
I changed into something more comfortable. The red dress was treated like a venomous snake and buried deep at the bottom of my suitcase.
When I came out, Captian was back to normal, sitting on the sofa and drinking wine, calm as if nothing had happened.
I didn't dare sit too close anymore and quietly leaned toward the window.
The plane gradually took off, leaving the city of Alchimie behind. Through the clear glass, I watched the city below slowly shrink familiar skyscrapers turning into tiny blocks, white clouds drifting past at eye level, as if I could touch them just by reaching out.
I watched for a long time, until my eyelids grew heavy. At some point, the steady hum of the engines lulled me to sleep.
When I opened my eyes again, the cabin was completely dark.
And I was lying in Captian's arms.
I froze completely, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of my chest.
"Mr. Captian…?" My voice trembled uncontrollably. "Wasn't I sitting by the window just now?"
He lowered his gaze to me, the corner of his lips curving slightly. He simply smiled, offering no answer.
At that moment, the warm aroma of food spread through the cabin, pulling me back to reality. I turned my head and saw the meal already set out on the small table delicate and beautifully arranged, enough to make anyone hungry at a glance.
I really was hungry.
"Eat." Captian said succinctly, his tone calm, as if me lying in his arms were the most natural thing in the world.
I immediately wriggled out of his embrace, clutching my bowl and stuffing my cheeks with food, looking just like a hamster hoarding snacks.
He suddenly reached out and lightly touched my cheek.
I startled, nearly dropping the bowl.
His finger slid down and stopped at the tear mole by the corner of my eye.
My whole body went rigid, not daring to move.
Only when he withdrew his hand did I silently breathe a sigh of relief only then realizing my back had been tense the entire time.
More than ten hours later, the plane finally landed.
I stepped off the aircraft and stood in Ravenholm Airport, lifting my head to look at the warm sunlight pouring down from the northern sky, stretching lazily.
Finally… freedom.
Around me were unfamiliar faces, blond hair, blue eyes, tall builds, deep features completely different from the familiar city of Alchimie.
Before my eyes, the city of Ravenholm slowly unfolded.
Foreign, tranquil… and seemingly hiding countless unknowns.