Chapter 17
The sound of footsteps made me look up. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Rylan stepping out from
behind the tall hedges. His eyes locked on mine, and he paused for a second when he saw the tears on
my face.
“Oh, Lisa,” he said softly. “Please don’t cry.”
Before I could stop him, he walked over and wrapped his arms around me. I didn’t resist. I buried my face
in his chest. I could feel his warmth surrounding me, and the sobs I had been holding back burst free.
1-1 think the seer might be right,” I said between my muffled breaths. “Maybe… maybe that’s why my parents never treated me the same. Maybe I am not their biological daughter. Maybe I’ve always been an
outsider to them.”
His arms tightened around me.
“Lisa,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “I know it hurts. But you don’t live with them anymore. You’re not part of their world now. You should forget about them. Let them go. Move on
with your life.”
I pulled back slowly, looking up into his eyes. “But then who are my real parents? What happened to them?
Did they… did they abandon me?”
Rylan looked down. His face was serious now. “I don’t know, Lisa. But I promise I’ll help you find out.
Whatever it takes.”
My eyes stung again. I didn’t know what I had done to deserve someone like him-someone who cared
this much.
“But…” he hesitated, his voice lowering. “I don’t want to hurt you or take away your hope. But there’s a possibility, Lisa… they might already be dead.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“That means…” I gasped. “I’m an orphan.”
The word felt cold and heavy on my tongue. Orphan. I had never thought of myself that way. Even with all the cruelty, I had still believed I belonged to someone.
Rylan reached for my hand and held it gently. “I don’t care if you’re an orphan or not,” he said, his voice firm and sincere. “That doesn’t change anything for me. I’ll always be here to support you.”
I stared at him. My heart fluttered. I felt confused and warm all at once.
“Why are you so kind to me?” I asked. “Why do you care so much?”
He smiled softly. “Because I know you have a good heart, Lisa. And…” He paused, looking into my eyes.
* Chapter 17
Because I am attracted to you.”
I blinked, my lips parting slightly. “W-what?”
+25 Points
“I’m attracted to you,” he said again. He was not shy at all. “From the first moment I saw you, bleeding and broken in that forest, I felt something. And every day since, that feeling has only grown.”
I felt my cheeks burn. I looked away quickly. “But… I’m not even that pretty. I mean, I am plain. I am weak. I don’t even know who I really am.”
His hand lifted to my face. Gently, he placed two fingers on my lips.
“Shh,” he whispered. “Don’t say things like that. You are the prettiest girl I have ever met.”
My heart skipped a beat.
I let out a nervous laugh. I was trying to brush off the sudden heat rushing to my face. “Oh, stop it with those cheesy lines,” I said and rolled my eyes. “Do you use this on all the girls you meet?”
He chuckled. “Only the special ones.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “How many special girls have there been?”
“Hmm,” he pretended to think, then leaned a little closer. “Exactly one.”
“Oh, please,” I said and shoved his arm playfully. “You’re such a flirt.”
“I’m serious,” he said, grinning. “You’re different, Lisa. You’re not like anyone I have met before. You’re strong, even if you don’t believe it yet. You’re brave. And you have this fire inside you.”
“Fire that splits trees in half?” I teased.
He laughed. “Exactly. That kind of fire.”
I smiled, the first real smile I have had all day. Somehow, Rylan always knew how to make me feel better,
even when the world around me felt like it was falling apart.
He stood up and offered me his hand. “Come on. Let’s go inside before you catch a cold out here.”
I placed my hand in his and he pulled me to my feet.
As we walked back through the garden, he didn’t let go of my hand. His thumb brushed lightly against mine, and the small touch made my heart flutter all over again.
When we reached the steps, I turned to him. “Thank you, Rylan.”
“For what?”
“For being here. For not laughing at me. For believing me.”
He looked down at me with that same soft smile. “You don’t have to thank me, Lisa. I’m just glad you’re
here… with me.”
We stood there for a moment, neither of us moving. The night air was cool, but his presence warmed me.
I tilted my head slightly. “Do you really think I am pretty?”
He leaned in just a little, his breath brushing against my cheek. “I think you’re beautiful.”
I blushed again and bit my lower lip.
“Now you’re just trying to make me blush,” I mumbled.
“It’s working,” he said smugly.
I laughed, lightly hitting his arm. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet, here you are, standing next to me.”
“Only because you bribed me with kindness and cheesy lines,” I said.
“I’ll keep doing it, then,” he said. “Every day if I have to.”
*25 Points
My laughter faded into a soft smile. The pain from earlier still lingered, but it wasn’t so heavy now. Rylan
didn’t take the pain away-but he made it easier to carry.
When we reached the mansion doors, he held them open for me.
As I stepped inside, he whispered, “You’re not alone anymore, Lisa. Whatever happens, I’m with you.”
I looked at him one more time before heading inside. For the first time in a long time, I believed those
words.
And for the first time, I didn’t feel like an outsider.
I felt… wanted.
I didn’t know what the future held, or who my real parents were. I didn’t know what kind of powers were
waking inside me.
But I knew one thing.
I wasn’t facing it all alone.
Not anymore.
