The security team that visited the hospital where Henry was admitted felt relieved to see him looking better than expected.
"Do you really need to stay in the hospital?"
Seth's question immediately irritated Henry.
"Fuck, what? You think I just have a scratch? My stomach has a hole in it, damn it!"
"Since it was just a graze, I should be able to leave soon… Ouch!"
At Isaac's careless remark, Henry kicked him without hesitation. Seth, watching Henry groan in pain, sighed and turned his head.
"So, are we staying here until Henry recovers, or should we head back first?"
Everyone turned to Mark, waiting for an answer. Mark, who had mentioned an important announcement earlier, lazily cleared his throat before speaking.
"Actually, I'll be staying longer—as C's bodyguard."
"Oh? Isn't this assignment supposed to end soon?"
Mark shook his head at Seth's question.
"No, we have to stay until filming wraps up. If we leave early, they'll file a lawsuit for breach of contract… But if we complete the assignment, we'll each receive three times the original contract amount."
"Wait… That guy is actually paying that much money?"
"Hold on," Isaac interjected, his eyes widening. "Are you saying that's over $300,000 per person?"
Henry, who had been trying to sit up, froze.
"$300,000?"
Seth asked again, and Mark hesitated before coughing.
"To be exact, $450,000. Since there's still a lot of filming left, but with that kind of money, you could live comfortably for years without working… unless, of course, you gamble it all away in one night."
Mark shot a pointed look at Henry, whose face had already brightened at the thought of the money. The entire team exchanged wary glances, knowing Henry's habits all too well.
Seth sighed and turned to Isaac.
"Whatever you do, don't lend him money."
"Obviously," Isaac replied seriously.
But Mark and Seth both knew how this would end. When Henry inevitably ran out of money, they'd probably be in the same boat, lending him cash and regretting it later.
Shaking his head, Seth changed the subject.
"What about Josh? I haven't seen him since yesterday."
"Oh, that," Mark replied. "He went to my mom's house. He said he wanted to see Peter since it's been a while. Anyway, the original security team is back, so we can finally take it easy…"
Before he could finish, Henry interrupted impatiently.
"So, when do we get paid?"
Mark, quick to catch on, answered immediately.
"After twelve o'clock."
"Oh, hell yes!"
"Nice work, Mark."
Mark simply nodded. Maybe he should invest in stocks with this money.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
From early morning, Chase had been restless. He barely ate, only drinking water, as he waited anxiously for Josh to arrive with his son.
The meeting place was set at a famous amusement park—Chase's idea, since Peter had never been to one before. Laura, once again taking the lead, had paid an outrageous amount to rent the park for the day.
Instead of regular visitors, the amusement park was filled with men in black suits—Chase's returning bodyguards. They were busy checking the rides in advance, verifying staff identities, and organizing security positions.
Time passed quickly, and soon, it was almost time for Josh to arrive.
Whoo.
Sitting at an outdoor table, Chase exhaled another shaky breath. No matter how deeply he breathed, he couldn't calm himself.
His schedule had been packed, but he had cleared the entire day for this. After filming until dawn the night before, he had barely slept. Instead, he had paced around his trailer, too restless to sit still. Now, he was here early, waiting anxiously.
Meeting Josh's son meant something significant. It meant Josh was taking him seriously. But something else gnawed at Chase's mind.
"Don't worry, you'll like him. Because…"
Because what?
Chase had been dying of curiosity, yet at the same time, he was afraid of the answer.
What if Josh's son only likes me for my face, too?
He tried to brush off the thought, but it lingered. His nerves only worsened as the minutes dragged on. Then, finally, his phone rang.
"Hello?"
He answered before even checking the caller ID.
A short pause, then a familiar voice.
[Chase?]
Chase exhaled shakily.
[Are you listening?] Josh asked.
"…Yeah. Tell me."
[I'm here. Are you ready?]
He wasn't even sure what he was supposed to prepare, but he answered, "Yes."
Josh's voice softened.
[It's okay, Chase.]
As if he could read Chase's anxiety, Josh hesitated for a moment before hanging up. Chase closed his eyes, his breath still trembling.
He had never prayed in his life, but right now, he felt desperate enough to try. Hands clasped together, he repeated deep breaths, trying to steady himself.
Then, finally—
Josh appeared.
Chase, who had been hunched over, slowly lifted his head.
Josh, as always, was smiling as he walked toward him, flanked by a bodyguard.
Unlike his usual security uniform, Josh wore a simple T-shirt and ripped jeans. His hair was casually tousled, with strands falling over his forehead. He looked effortlessly good, like a former athlete in old basketball shoes—completely relaxed yet still magnetic.
Chase was momentarily captivated.
Then, he saw the small child walking beside Josh, hand in hand.
His heart pounded.
If Chase had ever wondered what Josh looked like as a child, this was his answer. The resemblance was uncanny.
Chase stared, utterly transfixed.
Josh finally reached him and chuckled.
"Did you wait long? When did you get here?"
His voice was as sweet as ever, but Chase couldn't tear his gaze away from the boy.
Josh, noticing, crouched down beside the child and spoke gently.
"Peter, remember what we talked about? Say hello."
The boy hesitated, clutching a stuffed puppy in one hand while sucking on the other.
Chase felt something twist in his chest.
He suddenly felt foolish for ever worrying.
"…Hello, Peter?"
He barely got the words out before shutting his mouth quickly, as if realizing something. The child's wide eyes blinked, and suddenly, he clung tightly to Josh's neck. Chase's face paled at the unexpected reaction. Seeing this, Josh burst into laughter.
"No, no. He likes you, that's why…"
"What?"
Chase looked at the child again, still in disbelief. Peter buried his face against Josh's chest, then peeked at Chase before quickly turning away when their eyes met. Josh chuckled at Chase, who had instinctively reached out a hand, unsure of what to do.
"He's just shy. He gets embarrassed easily," Josh explained with a small, affectionate smile.
Peter quietly turned his head again. Chase forced a small smile, but just then, the child suddenly shouted—
"Villain!"
"Peter!"
Josh immediately tried to smooth things over with Chase, who had gone rigid with shock.
"It's just something he says to everyone he meets for the first time. He doesn't mean it! This is all because Emma taught him weird words…"
Josh kept rambling, but Chase barely heard him. It was only when Josh explained that Peter had said the same thing to the bodyguards all year that Chase managed to recover a bit. Sensing the opportunity, Josh took a firmer tone.
"Peter, I told you not to say rude things. If you do it again, I'll add extra beans to every meal!"
Peter's face turned pale at the threat. Chase, watching with interest, raised an eyebrow.
"Why beans?"
Josh sighed. "Because he hates them. Right, Peter?"
Realizing too late what he had admitted, Josh turned to Chase with an awkward expression. Chase, of course, had already caught on. Pretending not to notice the slip, Josh quickly shifted gears, prying the reluctant child off his shoulder. Holding Peter securely in one arm, he stretched out his other hand toward Chase.
"Come on, let's go. What should we ride first? Did you look at the map?"
Chase hesitated, glancing between Josh's extended hand and his face. His uncertainty didn't last long—Josh bent down slightly and grabbed his hand first.
Chase immediately rubbed his face with his free hand, his ears turning noticeably red. Seeing this, Josh quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.
"I used to come here a lot as a kid," Josh mused, changing the subject. "But this is the first time I haven't had to wait in line."
"…You lived in California?"
"Yeah, this is my hometown. I went to D High School…"
The conversation flowed naturally between them as they walked. Behind them, several bodyguards followed at a slight distance.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
Peter had an incredible amount of energy. Even after riding several attractions back-to-back, he showed no signs of tiring.
On the other hand, Chase and Josh were already reaching their physical limits—despite only going on the children's rides. Watching Peter go for his third turn on the same ride, Josh instinctively rubbed his sore shoulder. He glanced at Chase and found him staring blankly ahead, looking utterly drained.
A slow-moving train ride passed by, and Peter came into view. Chase forced a smile and waved. Peter grinned and waved back. Chase's smile wavered slightly.
Josh, watching the exchange, chuckled. When Chase turned to look at him questioningly, Josh cleared his throat and said casually—
"Thanks. This is Peter's first time at an amusement park."
"I know," Chase replied, his voice still steady despite his exhaustion.
Josh had let it slip once before that Peter had never been to an amusement park, which was exactly why Chase had chosen this location. Realizing this, Josh smiled warmly.
No matter how awkward Chase was around children, he was patient with Peter. He didn't get irritated when Peter poked at him or dodged questions.
However, there was a limit to how many rides Chase could handle. Eventually, he switched tactics—choosing to cheer Peter on instead of riding with him.
As Peter came around again, Chase waved with a bright smile and said—
"It's my first time too."
"…What?"
Josh turned to him in surprise. Chase, still watching Peter, continued calmly—
"It's my first time at an amusement park."
Josh furrowed his brows. "But you looked so comfortable on the rides?"
Chase shrugged. "I've been on rides before. Most of them were in my backyard."
Josh decided not to ask about the size of his backyard.
As the ride slowed to a stop, they went to pick up Peter.
"What do you want to do next? Should we get lunch first?" Josh asked, checking the time.
As he absentmindedly grabbed Peter's hand, he glanced at Chase, subtly signaling for him to take the other hand. Chase, however, didn't pick up on it.
Peter, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, clung to Josh's leg instead. With a sigh, Josh scooped him up into his arms and casually reached for Chase's hand as they walked.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
The park's attractions continued operating as usual.
When they stopped by Peter's favorite ice cream shop, Chase bought him a strawberry cone, while Josh handed him a vanilla one. Just as Chase was about to walk away, Peter stomped his foot, looking up at him expectantly.
"Aren't you paying?"
Chase stopped mid-step, blinking down at the child. Peter looked genuinely confused.
Chase crouched down to his level, mirroring Josh's usual approach.
"I bought the whole park for today," he explained. "So you don't have to pay for anything."
Peter tilted his head. "You bought it? All of it?"
The concept seemed a bit too big for him to grasp. Chase calmly added, "For today, this place is all yours."
Peter turned to Josh with an unsure expression. Josh simply smiled.
"Yes, it's true."
Still tilting his head in thought, Peter hesitated before asking—
"Then… can I have another ice cream?"
Before anyone could answer, another towering strawberry cone was placed in his small hands.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
Simply feeding the child a hot dog, Josh and Chase took bites of their hamburgers one by one. Josh admired how Chase ate without spilling anything or getting food on his face.
On the other hand, Peter, like a child, got stains on his chin and on the new shirt he had bought the day before. Josh roughly wiped the ketchup off with a napkin and handed the child a drink. Chase, watching his skillful movements, spoke up.
"…Have you been raising him alone for a long time?"
Josh froze for a moment but instinctively knew it was time to tell the truth. After making sure Peter was too distracted by his food to pay attention, he lowered his voice and replied.
"I… I raised him myself. So… Peter's Papa doesn't know he exists."
"He doesn't know?"
Josh recalled the words he had prepared the night before, but it was difficult to say them now that the moment had arrived. While he hesitated, Peter turned his head.
"Daddy."
"Oh, your juice?"
Josh reached for the child's drink and noticed a bug in it. He quickly stood up, clicking his tongue.
"I'll get a new one. Can you wait a minute?"
Josh smiled at Peter.
"Daddy will get you another one."
Peter shifted his gaze from Josh to Chase, his expression uncertain. But Josh pretended not to notice.
"Then please."
"Joshua, wait a minute…"
Chase called out to him, but Josh was already striding away.
An awkward silence settled between Chase and Peter. The child resumed eating his hot dog, but his chewing slowed, as if he were thirsty. Chase, noticing, pushed his drink toward him.
"Hey, milkshake. Want a sip?"
Peter hesitated, glancing between Chase and the drink. Chase gently pushed it forward again, as if to say it was okay. Peter murmured a small "thank you" and took a sip through the straw. Chase felt a sense of triumph—Peter had accepted his gesture. It was only then that Chase realized why Josh had left them alone.
He figured he should try to build a friendship with Peter.
Determined, Chase studied the child's round head. The blonde boy, who resembled Josh, stirred a strange affection in him. Yet, Chase found himself hesitating.
After a few false starts, he finally blurted out, "What do you like? I mean, anime?"
Trying to guess a child's tastes, Chase watched as Peter's eyes lit up at the mention of a famous train character.
"Yes! Choo-choo!"
Did he like the train itself or the character? Chase wasn't sure, but seeing Peter's excitement gave him hope. He decided to press on.
"Do you like Earth Taker?"
Was that too mature for a kid?
Peter blinked, seeming to think. Then he nodded.
"I know that."
"Really? Who do you like the most? Do you know Dr. Flame?"
Chase unknowingly leaned forward, excited. Peter hesitated before replying.
"I don't like Dr. Flame. I'm sorry."
Chase was momentarily disappointed, but the way Peter apologized softened him.
"Then who do you like?"
"I like Iceman."
"…"
Of course. Kids love the main character.
Chase sighed. He suddenly wondered—why had Keith made him play Dr. Flame?
"Uh?"
Peter suddenly perked up and rushed off somewhere. Chase, momentarily dazed, quickly snapped back to reality and followed him. What he found was a large sign advertising a theme park featuring Peter's favorite train characters.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
Peter glanced around, excited. His face was full of hope—clearly, he was expecting Josh to take him to this paradise.
Chase also had a ticket that could get them in, but instead of making the decision himself, he suggested, "Shall we go? Just tell Daddy to come here."
"Can I do that?"
Peter's face lit up. Chase nodded, and suddenly, Peter reached out. For a moment, Chase didn't understand. Then he realized—the child was holding out his hand.
When Chase gently grasped it, he felt something sticky—ice cream. The small, soft hand in his grasp made his heart nearly stop. He wanted to carry Peter like Josh did, but afraid of dropping him, he simply adjusted his pace to match the child's small strides as they walked toward the theme park.
Then, suddenly—
A sound split the air. A dog's loud barking.
Chase froze.
Peter turned toward the noise, his eyes wide with surprise.
"Huh? It's Jason!"
He exclaimed happily.
"Look, Jason! You look just like Jason!"
Peter shook the stuffed puppy he had been holding, his voice full of excitement.
But Chase heard nothing.
Even as Peter chattered, Chase stood frozen. It wasn't until Peter, still holding his hand, tugged at him that he snapped back to reality.
Noticing something was off, the bodyguards hurried over.
"Mr. Miller, are you okay? You don't look well."
"…"
"Mr. Miller, wake up!"
The team leader shook his shoulder lightly, his voice urgent. Chase blinked, disoriented. Slowly, reality settled back in. The bodyguards stared at him, concerned. One by one, the amusement park's attractions came into focus, and Chase remembered why he was there.
Peter.
Awakening from his daze, Chase looked down—his hand was empty. His face drained of color.
"Where's Peter?"
The team leader's expression changed. The bodyguards, who had been watching Chase, suddenly scrambled, scanning the area. But Peter had already vanished. Chase's mind went blank.
"Find him. NOW!"
At his sharp command, the bodyguards scattered.
"Mr. Miller, please, you need to sit down. You're going to collapse…"
The team leader spoke anxiously, but Chase ignored him. He had to find Peter.
No.
His thoughts spiraled into panic. It had only been a few minutes. No, just seconds. How could Peter have disappeared so quickly? How was it possible that so many people had failed to notice a small child?
How? Why? He had frozen instead of watching Peter.
He needed to think. Think. THINK.
Jason.
The puppy.
Peter had been holding his stuffed animal and talking about a dog.
Then—again, the barking.
Chase, suddenly alert, steadied his breath and asked urgently,
"…Is there a dog kennel nearby?"
✤✤✤✤✤✤
Josh, sitting on a bench and eating ice cream, checked the watch on his wrist. That would be enough. Almost half an hour—surely, the two would have built up some kind of relationship.
If not, it couldn't be helped.
He couldn't help it. He got up and headed toward Chase and Peter, thinking: If nothing has changed, I'll confess everything now. There's no reason to procrastinate. All I need is courage.
Josh, who sighed briefly, hurried back and forth. He realized that something was off. People were behaving strangely, and among them, Chase's bodyguards spotted him, approaching with urgency.
"Is there a problem? What happened?"
The bodyguard who recognized his face looked confused and tense. Something was wrong. An ominous premonition ran through Josh's mind.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
Ha, ha.
Chase's shoulders shook as he gasped for breath. The need to find Peter consumed him. The child had disappeared without a trace.
He was in danger—he was so small.
Chase could barely think straight. His frantic mind registered the sight of the kennel's high fence. It was locked with a silver key, making it impossible for Peter to have gotten inside.
But where was he?
Chase couldn't even focus, the continuous barking of dogs clouding his thoughts. Reports from the bodyguards trickled in, but none offered any sign of Peter. Chase avoided the noise and kept searching, but as expected, he found nothing.
Joshua.
Josh and Peter's faces kept flashing through his mind. Self-reproach swelled within him, but now was not the time for doubt. He forced himself to move, scanning every possible hiding place.
How could I have lost him like this?
Chase couldn't believe it. While wandering in search of the child, he realized he had strayed from the bodyguards and found himself near the dog kennel. This was a different location from the iron fence the others had been searching near. As he climbed a low hill, he stopped in astonishment. Below stretched an endlessly long iron fence and a large, abandoned feedlot.
If the area was that vast, they couldn't confirm anything just by looking around. They needed someone to unlock the gates and search inside. But instead of pushing for it, Chase had avoided the place—because of the dogs.
He clenched his jaw.
How pathetic am I?
Again, somewhere, a dog barked. As soon as he heard the sound, Chase groaned and froze. His feet wouldn't move. He took a deep breath and counted.
It's okay. There's a fence. I'm safe. Nothing will happen.
Repeating the words like a mantra, he tried to steady himself, but his pulse refused to slow. And then, the memories of that day came rushing back.
Grayson's bright laughter. The rustling leaves, so peaceful. His own desperate screams for help. The sickly sweet scent of pheromones clouding his senses. And finally—the Rottweiler.
The deep, musky odor of the dog filled his mind just as, miraculously, he spotted the child he was searching for.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
"What do you mean Peter is missing?!"
Josh ran, his thoughts in turmoil. The head of security, pale-faced, spoke with difficulty.
"I'm sorry. Mr. Miller's condition has been deteriorating. He suddenly froze at the sound of a dog… We're searching for Peter now. We'll find him soon."
"You mean Chase isn't getting better? No, wait—are you saying we still haven't found Peter?!" Josh stammered, his mind racing. "No, hold on."
Panic clouded his thoughts. He looked around frantically, but all he saw were bodyguards.
"…Where is Chase?"
The team leader stiffened at Josh's question. Thoughtful, he turned his head, but his view was no different from Josh's. Realizing the urgency, he barked out orders.
"Teams 1 and 2, search for Mr. Miller! Teams 3 and 4, search for the child!"
Josh felt his knees weaken but forced himself to stay upright. Wake up. This is not the time to collapse. He shook his head vigorously, forcing his mind to focus.
He had no idea where they had gone, but he couldn't just stand there. He started searching, calling out their names.
✤✤✤✤✤✤
Chase stared at the child blankly, his face pale and exhausted.
How did he get in there?
His mind was blank. That's right—Peter was small enough to crawl through a gap in the iron fence. Chase had been stupid to turn away just because the door was locked.
His reasoning was sound, but now was not the time for analysis. He needed to figure out how to get Peter out.
Beyond the fence lay overgrown grass and trees. This wasn't a visitor-friendly kennel—it was a neglected site, with weeds growing unchecked and no sign of human presence.
Peter clung desperately to the long grass on the slope, trying not to slide into the lake below. His small body trembled, his face pale. He wouldn't last much longer.
Chase had no time to hesitate.
Without calling for help, he approached the iron fence. Again, the dogs barked. His hands trembled as he gripped the bars. Every instinct screamed at him to run.
But what would happen to Peter?
He shook his head, trying to dispel the horrific image of the child slipping into the water. Thankfully, Peter was still holding on. Chase bit his lip and shouted.
"Peter!"
The crying child startled, looking up. When he saw Chase, his eyes widened.
"Ah?"
Relief washed over Peter's face, and his grip loosened slightly. Chase's fear surged back. If Peter let go now, he'd fall.
"Peter!" Chase rattled the fence desperately, but it wouldn't budge. Peter burst into fresh tears, his exhaustion evident.
Chase forced himself to focus. He spotted a small opening—a dog hole just big enough to squeeze through.
He didn't hesitate.
The wire mesh cut into his shoulders as he crawled through. Pain flared, but he ignored it. Dust clogged his nose, dirt smeared his face, but he kept moving. The child's cries fueled his determination.
Finally, after dragging himself through the filth, he was in. Mud coated his face, sand grated his tongue, but he didn't stop. He had to reach Peter.
"Peter!"
The child sobbed harder. Chase was almost there. He would hold Peter in his arms soon. He would save him.
Then—
A low growl.
Chase froze.
He turned his head slowly. A large dog stood nearby, baring its teeth. His breath caught.
Jason.
Now he understood what Peter had meant. The dog looked exactly like the stuffed toy Peter carried everywhere. But this was no toy. This was a full-grown, dangerous animal.
Cold fear gripped Chase's spine.
Peter was between him and the dog. If he reached for Peter, the dog would attack. Maybe it would go for Peter first—he was smaller, weaker.
Chase knew he had only seconds to act.
He had to move.
But his legs wouldn't obey.
Just like then.
Memories crashed over him. The man who had bled for him. The wide back shielding him. The warm smile. The body soaked in blood.
Joshua.
His breath became ragged, and a cold sweat ran down his back. What if he lost that child? A smiling face, gazing at Peter with such affection, filled his vision. He couldn't even imagine the man who always seemed so strong breaking down.
That was when he remembered what Josh had said.
"If I die, will you cry?"
"Yes. I'll cry a lot."
At that moment, Chase lunged toward Peter.
A sudden gunshot rang out just as Chase wrapped his arms around Peter, shielding him from the furious dog charging at them.
Bang!
The startled dog skidded to a halt, hesitated, then stepped back—but it wasn't over yet. Another gunshot echoed through the air, and a bullet struck the ground near the dog's paws. Panicked, the animal finally turned tail and bolted.
"Chase! Peter!"
A desperate voice rang out. Only then did Chase realize—it was Josh.
"Ah…"
His legs buckled beneath him, the sudden relief making him weak. He almost tumbled into the lake, but the overgrown weeds held him back. Gasping, Chase reached for the thick grass, steadying himself. Meanwhile, Josh sprinted toward them and extended his hand.
"Come on, grab it, Chase!"
Chase lifted his head. As always, there was the man who had come to save him.
With a faint smile, Chase pushed the child up first.
Sobbing, Peter recognized Josh and stretched his arms toward him. Josh hurriedly pulled Peter into his arms, securing the child on his back before reaching for Chase again. Chase, still smiling faintly, grasped Josh's hand, and with one strong pull, Josh hauled him up.
"—!"
Chase collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent. Josh, breathing heavily, sat beside him, equally exhausted.
"Daddy, Daddy…"
"Yeah, Peter," Josh murmured, finally able to breathe properly.
"Jason… I lost him."
Peter's small hands were empty. When Josh turned his gaze in confusion, Chase spoke in a weary voice.
"The doll fell into the lake. I couldn't save it."
Josh, patting Peter's head as he sobbed, turned to Chase with a serious expression.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
Chase glanced at him. Josh reached out, touching his scratched and dirt-streaked face.
"You're hurt," he said, voice subdued.
Chase only managed a bitter smile. Josh, whose own appearance was equally battered, let out a breath.
"You look like a mess."
"Yeah."
For the first time, Chase spoke, but that was all. Josh, momentarily speechless, sighed.
"Why did you do that?" he asked, his face tightening. "You're terrified of dogs. But you still saved Peter instead of running away… even getting hurt like this."
Chase met his gaze, unwavering.
"He's your child."
Josh's eyes widened. He stared at Chase, unable to speak. Chase, exhausted, let out a tired laugh at his reaction.
"…That's all?"
Josh's voice trembled. Chase didn't answer—just kept that same faint smile. But somehow, Josh knew. This time, Chase was more sincere than he had ever been.
Josh couldn't hold back anymore.
"He's your child too."
"…?"
Chase frowned slightly, as if he hadn't heard correctly.
Josh's voice wavered, but he repeated, "Peter… he's our child. Yours and mine."
"…"
Chase said nothing. He just stared at Josh, as if unable to process the words. Josh waited, watching as realization slowly dawned.
Finally, Chase's gaze drifted toward Peter.
The child's face was streaked with mud and dust, his little body shaking from crying. He looked different now—like someone Chase was truly seeing for the first time.
After a long pause, Chase finally spoke.
"How old is he?"
It was all he could manage through the flood of thoughts in his mind.
Josh swallowed, his lips trembling.
"When I was guarding you… your Rut came. You don't remember."
"Then you—" Chase hesitated, his voice tight. "You slept with me."
Josh felt like a sinner awaiting judgment. His throat was dry as he watched Chase struggle to process it all. The silence stretched so long it felt like time had stopped.
Then, at last, Chase spoke.
"Did I… force you?"
"No! No!"
Josh immediately shook his head. Seeing the horror creeping into Chase's face, he repeated himself, voice firm.
"I wanted to. I wanted you. I loved you… That's why I was with you. There was nothing wrong with that."
Chase remained frozen, eyes wide in shock.
Josh took a deep breath and lowered his gaze.
"I'm sorry."
"…"
"I'm sorry I lied. I should've told you sooner."
Chase just looked at him. Josh braced himself, ready for whatever accusation or anger Chase might throw at him.
Maybe this was it. Maybe everything would end here. Maybe they would go back to being strangers.
Just as a dull ache settled in his chest, Chase finally whispered.
"…Thank God."
Josh blinked in surprise. Unbelievably, Chase's eyes were filled with tears. His voice trembled as he spoke, sincerity overflowing in every word.
"I knew I had slept with someone."
Josh remained silent, waiting.
"Someone was with me during my Rut… but I couldn't remember who. I've been searching for him for the past few years."
"You were searching for me?" Josh asked in shock.
"Yes," Chase admitted, covering his face with both hands and letting out a shaky sigh.
"But maybe it really was a dog," he muttered bitterly. "I couldn't find a single trace, no matter how much I looked."
"No!"
Josh reacted instantly, grabbing Chase's wrist to stop him from speaking any further.
"You never slept with a dog, Chase."
Chase froze, his body visibly tensing. Josh's voice softened, filled with regret.
"Grayson lied to you."
Slowly, Chase lowered his hands. The shock on his face was unmistakable. Josh pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"He only said that to scare you… because you kept rejecting the truth."
"That motherfucker—I'm gonna kill him!"
Chase suddenly sat up and shouted, his fury barely contained.
Startled, Peter—who had been sleeping in exhaustion—woke with a cry. Josh quickly cradled the child, rocking him to soothe his sobs.
"Watch your mouth in front of the kid," he scolded.
On rare occasions, Chase held back his temper, but this wasn't one of them. He shot to his feet, pacing in frustration. His jaw clenched, fists tightening at his sides.
"I said it was because he cared about you," Josh added, though even he didn't believe those words.
Chase stopped abruptly and turned to him, his eyes burning with rage.
"Grayson doesn't know what emotions are. He just imitates them."
Josh shrugged slightly, his expression unimpressed.
"He also said you never slept with anyone before."
Chase, who had been gripping his head in frustration, stilled. He turned to Josh with an incredulous look.
"You were always sedated with injections," Josh continued, his voice gentler now. "And the reason he kept it hidden for so long was because you kept rejecting your Rut. So he tried to scare you into accepting it."
"…"
"No murder, Chase," Josh warned firmly, though his tone remained calm. "I've already beaten him up plenty. But if you want, I can kidnap him so you can take a swing yourself."
"Good."
A silent agreement passed between them.
Chase was still seething. His breath came fast, his fists clenched, his body shaking with suppressed anger. He kicked at the ground, ran a hand through his hair, and exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself.
It took a while. But finally, when the rage had settled to a simmer, his gaze shifted toward Josh and Peter.
The way he looked at Peter was different now.
His eyes held a mix of emotions—hesitation, confusion, and something else. Something soft. Something raw. Josh didn't rush him. He simply waited, allowing Chase to process it all.
"… Before," Chase finally murmured. "The person I slept with but couldn't remember…"
"It was me."
Josh answered before he could even finish.
Chase snapped his mouth shut, biting back whatever curse had been on the tip of his tongue. Josh smirked, knowing exactly what he had held back.
Peter stirred again, his little eyes blinking open at the change in atmosphere. Chase stared at him for a long moment. The silence between them was thick, yet it was the warmest silence he had ever known.
Chase finally spoke, his voice quieter than before.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't save Jason."
Peter, still groggy from sleep, looked at him and gave a small, sleepy smile.
"It's okay."
Chase blinked.
"It was your favorite, wasn't it?" he asked, hesitant.
"It was," Peter admitted.
Josh chuckled softly. "I think he likes your face more now."
"…"
"Aren't you happy?"
Chase shot Josh an annoyed glare at the unexpected question.
"Like you?" he muttered.
Josh raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
Chase scoffed. "You only like me because of my face anyway."
Josh stopped.
Chase narrowed his eyes, arms crossed.
"It's the same, isn't it? You're just like Peter—you only like me for my face."
Josh shook his head with an exasperated laugh.
"You idiot."
"What?" Chase bristled immediately.
Josh's smile turned softer.
"That's you too."
"…?"
"That's all you have."
Chase's scowl deepened, but Josh only smirked, adding, "And think about it—if I only liked you for your face, don't you think I would've let you hit me more than once?"
Chase's irritation flared. "So you did only like me for my face?"
"You never landed a roundhouse kick on me."
Chase let out an offended exclamation, but before he could retort, Josh's expression turned serious.
"Maybe at first, it was because of your pheromones."
"…"
"Maybe it was because of your face."
Chase hesitated. "…And now?"
Josh exhaled slowly, his expression uncharacteristically nervous. Then, after a brief pause, he finally said it.
"Now… I love you."
Chase's eyes widened.
Josh realized—he had never actually said those words before.
"I love you," he repeated, the words sweeter than he ever imagined.
Chase didn't reply. Instead, he pulled Josh into a desperate kiss.
Their mouths crashed together, a mixture of heat, longing, and the overwhelming emotions they had been holding back. Chase kissed him roughly, as if trying to pour all of his feelings into it. Josh felt his mind blur, drowning in Chase's scent, in the warmth of his lips, in the way his breath trembled against his skin.
And then—
"Wahh!"
The child caught between them stirred, letting out a loud cry.
Chase instantly jerked away, eyes wide in horror as if he had forgotten Peter was even there.
Josh burst into laughter.
"You'll get used to it," he said, still chuckling. "The fact that you have a child."
Josh leaned in, stealing another quick kiss. This time, he only lightly nipped at Chase's lower lip before pulling away. He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from Chase's face.
"This is what you left behind that day," he murmured.
Chase's gaze locked onto him.
Josh's voice was quieter now. "It was unexpected, but I'm grateful. Because of you, I have Peter. All of this… all of this happiness, you gave me."
"…"
Josh took a deep breath. And then, finally, he said the words he had never spoken to anyone before.
"Marry me, Chase."
Chase's eyes widened again. He stumbled back a step, covering his mouth with one hand, looking completely overwhelmed.
Josh waited. Just like before.
But this time, Chase didn't take as long to respond.
"…Huh."
It was barely a sound, but it was enough.
Josh pretended not to notice the way Chase's eyes glistened. Instead, he simply smiled and kissed him again.
"I'll make you happy, Chase Miller."