?Chapter 665:


    That day, Litzy had taken Ellie and her brother to the amusement park, a day that turned sour when her brother was injured. med for the ident and left alone in the park by Litzy, Ellie waited through the changing sky until the rain poured down, unnoticed by anyone.


    Passersby moved quickly past her until a teenage boy approached. In the midst of the downpour, he draped his ck raincoat over her shoulders, undeterred by the rain soaking him—a testament to his patience.


    “Choose one,” he offered, extending his hands to reveal a candy and a dagger. The young Ellie instinctively reached for the candy, but the boy nudged the dagger closer, suggesting, “The dagger could help you get more candies. Think about it.”


    Ellie withdrew her hand, stating firmly, “I can’t touch bad things.”


    The boy’s face was mostly obscured by a ck baseball cap, revealing only his fair chin and the pale, slender curve of his lips. A sneer tugged at the corners of his mouth as he countered, “The dagger can protect you. Candy is fleeting, consumed and gone, perhaps even poisoned.”


    Ellie stood her ground. “I’ll protect myself from now on. I don’t need the dagger, but thank you.”


    Though his lips tightened in apparent displeasure, he handed over the candy. The rain revealed his vulnerability as he coughed harshly, a stark contrast to his earlier stoicism. “If no onees for you, walk home. Keep moving forward, and don’t look back,” he instructed, despite the evident difort.


    Ellie couldn’t fathom herpliance that day. But she discarded the candy, fearing its potential poison. Yet, his directive—”If no onees for you, walk home. Keep moving forward, and don’t look back”—profoundly shaped her growth. She learned to rely less on Houston and Litzy, embracing independence and resilience.


    Now, realizing the photographer had been alone with her since the perspective was from behind, Ellie felt a wave of realization wash over her. Her heart swelled with a mix of remorse and revtion.


    Kristopher had been that boy—the one who had made such an indelible impact on her youth. All this time, she had been unaware of his identity.


    M??? ??d???? ?? g????????.????


    The unresolved issue lingered in Ellie’s mind, and Kristopher’s unexpected visit had her convinced she’d be restless through the night.


    Surprisingly, sleep imed her swiftly, a testament to thefort she found in Kaiden’s assurances. His promise was a nket of security, under which she found peace.


    The break of dawn brought rity and a sense of warmth, wrapped in a familiar embrace.


    Ellie’s first sight upon awakening was Kaiden’s defined chest.


    “When did you get back?” she murmured, her voice a soft whisper against the morning quiet.


    “After you were asleep,” Kaiden replied.


    She realized he had returned quitete and had probably been trying not to disturb her.


    Propping herself up on her elbows, Ellie leaned forward to press a kiss to Kaiden’s chin—a silent thank you for his presence and protection.


    .


    .


    .