Ray had been through rehabilitation many times, but this was one of the hardest. But it wasn't the pain or the feeling of awkwardness that bothered him. The man was tormented by the returning helplessness he had felt in the first months after Lily and their children died.
Yuno had trouble holding back the journalists, but Ray knew she couldn't do it for long. And although Deya was guarded by his people, he understood that desperate paparazzi chasing a sensation would eventually get to her. Besides, he needed to return to public life. Even though he wanted to put off this conversation as long as possible — he couldn't wait any longer.
One day, when Deya was reading him a book after lunch, Ray said quietly:
"Little sister, we need to talk."
Deya could understand what this was about. She knew this day would come. Knowing it would be very difficult for her brother, she decided to joke, trying to help him relax:
"Brother, if you and big sis Yuno decided to get married — I don't mind. So don't worry."
"No, it's not that. She's like a daughter to me. I don't think I could ever marry her."
"Even if you don't marry her officially, I'm sure big sis Yuno will one day jump into your bed," the little one said, and despite her words, her face remained innocent. "Brother, but even I can see that she loves you."
"It's complicated. Maybe someday you'll understand me. But right now, I want to talk about something else."
"This will be a difficult conversation, but you're smart, and I'm sure you'll understand everything. Our real last name is Evans. When I was young, the girl I loved was brutally murdered. Not wanting that to weigh on you, I decided not only to change our last name but also to move to another country. But after what happened, journalists started hunting us for real. I wanted to put off this conversation as long as possible."
"My girlfriend's name was Lily. When it happened, she was pregnant. Sometime later, I found out that our mother had cancer, but shortly before she died, she gave birth to you. When she found out she was sick and would die soon, she didn't want me to be alone. So she gave me such a cute little sister."
"I'm sorry I almost never told you about Mom. As soon as I recover, we'll visit them. As for your training... I've already lost my beloved and our children. So I hope you can forgive me if I sometimes went too far."
Deya could clearly see that this conversation was very hard for her brother. When he finished speaking, the girl hugged her brother, trying to comfort him.
Ray's revelations led to Deya becoming like his shadow. She knew it wasn't easy for her brother, but his confessions helped the girl understand him. Ray didn't talk much about their mother, but in those rare moments when he mentioned her, it was always with warmth.
Learning from Miku that her mother had endured so much suffering to give her life, Deya decided to do her best to become her brother's guardian angel. The fact that she needed to keep up the mask of a sweet little girl made this task a bit harder, but she managed.
They had always been very close to her brother. But her actions almost destroyed everything. Now Deya worked hard to strengthen the foundation of their relationship.
Yuno wouldn't let the nurses near him, insisting on taking care of him personally. At one such moment, as she was wiping him down with a towel, the body of a man who had not known a woman's touch for a long time reacted in a very natural way. Yuno was embarrassed — both by the sight before her and by the desire to touch.
After everything she had been through, the girl was like a wild beast — the touch of men and even women evoked a mixture of disgust and fear in her. She thought it would always be that way.
But Ray's gentle care had made him the only man whose touch was pleasant for this little one who had experienced hell while still alive.
As if sensing her desires, Ray said sternly:
"You don't need to do this."
The man's voice was robotic, but Yuno was one of the few who seemed able to understand its emotional tone.
Unexpectedly, Yuno looked straight into Ray's eyes and said:
"Daddy... doesn't want me because I'm broken?"
Yuno's frozen face and her tone made Ray realize that his answer could change everything drastically. So he decided to answer honestly:
"Silly girl... Despite everything you've been through, you're still beautiful. And your soul is one of the brightest. I'm very glad that a girl like you has such warm feelings for me. But I'm not the one you need."
Yuno wanted to object, but it was obvious to her: for the person who had been her savior and father, this man was her entire world. It was exactly that.
So she said calmly:
"I'm a grown girl now, so I can decide for myself who I need. You're the only man toward whom I have warm feelings."
"Maybe so. But if you're with me, you'll never be able to move forward. I'll be a constant reminder to you of what you went through. We both know that even now, I won't give up on my ultimate goals — not even for you."
"Daddy... Are you really so naive as to believe that I can forget everything I went through and move on? I was raped by my own father, and then his friends started doing it. Instead of stopping it, my mother just watched."
"We're very alike. I understand you like no one else. Deya is the anchor that keeps you from going insane. You are the same for me. Without you, my life will lose all meaning."
"Let's do this: while I'm recovering, you try starting a relationship with someone else."
When Yuno heard these words, her face darkened. She remembered how her father had started selling her to his friends.
Correctly reading her thoughts, Ray quickly said:
"I'm not telling you to sleep with them. Try to let someone into your heart. If you succeed — we'll forget this conversation. If not... I'll reciprocate your feelings."