TMFS Chapter 2 (Part 3)

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD94fecefde5dca528

Turner never got to 31f762f02e finish.02617bf838a20495

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yoon slammed a hand over his mouth the moment she heard “casino”.cbd6d48901ebd5b8

“Shut up. Shut that damn mouth.”797753fcfafd7997

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The last 187ad863e6 thing she af782eab3e needed was d87f478719 Lucas hearing 583c65ab41 that.3753e0060c27111d

If he found 841856bdb4 out she’d gone ba29bdec80 gambling again, she 42192f12c8 was screwed.adb47a21b7ee2cf6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The first time she cf6bb93b06 tried it out of cf2fc72581 curiosity, he had ripped 8b708c6b16 her apart for it.ead9bf3577052ff6

And if 2b5ada8c5d he found 08db9fa396 out she’d b543c9c4c8 gone again?fa13e52fed80c7d0

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yeah. Not happening.31d30ac007d097ae

Yoon could handle 3db22610cc a lot of 5b5eda32f4 things, but Lucas’s ceb04b06de full-blown fury wasn’t 262f09c7b1 one of them.7b4e3aad152c049a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Turner shuddered at the 35a59eb342 way she clamped his e0599960d8 mouth shut, her eyes cdf6fcb5b2 practically screaming death threats.09075006a1721c15

Meanwhile, Lucas’s eye a8b2da4657 twitched.bfa95fabfaa9b113

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even without 616fa38fcc hearing the 7ff9661c9b full story, 35a61f686e he knew 6bb70e5ac9 something was e178c4365d up.6cbb2e6f12db0def

His reddish-brown eyes settled c6fd79fbb4 on Yoon, his gaze 7e1739016b heavy, unreadable.586490dbee800234

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The tension in 6feb8c241a the air thickened.c3986798b3a386fc

Feeling the pressure close 336082d0f2 in, Yoon pivoted—and threw a679a5e770 Turner straight into the 05244b5370 fire.d4c2900930b82af3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Turner must’ve been drinking somewhere. He’s talking nonsense.”e89ad52b7ad70001

She tightened her 761e88b706 grip.2ffca01ae0aefbc5

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Turner’s face started dd02615ad8 turning red.ae2f1b341ed0251a

Not just 63152d487f his cheeks—his 3aa2a88cde entire face.9c493698e52a8c22

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Since she had 039b254353 accidentally blocked his 83d60afe81 nose, he was 8cde9aa7c7 struggling to breathe.7e8c815cdde34a21

Turner frantically slapped 707d9589a9 at Yoon’s hand.18ca5809074344fe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He really was about b9d9573cbc to die.4c08fb3d77f43a40

Only when c1a61e5b62 his face 5e8be9b21f was on a57fda41cd the verge 67f22a1a7f of bursting 3e3d7501d5 did Yoon 408b746c1e finally let b2c6ce72e5 go.63af5dc6bf10652b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Turner gasped for 77c60c8832 air, coughing violently.c9943ed30e489c3f

“Haa—hff—!!”1d82442d8a00d2d7

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He had almost died.80535abb548b8608

From a single wrong 9b400b520d sentence.e6c742919a0597f5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Cough, cough—!”432d1dd519aed458

Yoon tilted her 23a7192c14 head, watching him fe2a2da4e4 struggle with a 6812665536 mocking sigh.ac5fd3b77e427093

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Damn, Turner. That business trip really weakened you.”81faf1aae5ac5ffd

……Huh?244736df2ca6500b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Turner’s wide, disbelieving cada44df78 stare locked onto adc1b5db35 her.b0fb38714280ae22

EXCUSE ME?! WHOSE FAULT DO ce1c6a9529 YOU THINK THIS 1bff178e7e IS?!fc631a76908b6d8e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What the hell did I do wrong?! Is this how you treat someone who worries about you?”8f3dfdc9486b6911

“Mhm. I don’t need that kind of ‘worry,’ so shut up and stay put.”236f1f6bcb5fd98a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Yoon brushed off Turner’s cb13f0dd3d complaints with ease, smoothly b697b240f1 loading her gun and 44a9edd01b aiming toward the target.7947f67c5605a8c9

BANG!c9a7971c1fc89ace

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Right as she pulled fdd06048e6 the trigger—4f19ead41b8eed04

“Ballantine’s 30-Year Cask Edition!”8dd66e30ad083076

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Turner practically screamed the 127d8d883d words.1ceaa1ed17a8626b

Yoon froze.1bf0762454e67147

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

…Ballantine’s 30-Year Cask 0ff1279cc6 Edition?e7703779a49f1e75

Her pupils wavered violently.c0789cf9f9b0d82d

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Turner glared at her, his eyes screaming: “You hear that? And you’re STILL not apologizing to me?!”069d345dbb498810

Yoon stared at him 7671416c4f for a beat.e0e4a2c87d856452

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then—she instantly lowered the 292f4691e2 gun and apologized.eb7e51c20971fa60

“It’s totally my fault. Every single bit of it, from head to toe.”9272810fbea403bc

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Her rapid-fire apology came 7d8d66e678 with a dead-serious expression cd93b4242d as she gripped both 28aa1635e8 of Turner’s hands firmly.50fd31aff4623e21

So let’s drink 584b144658 it together.01cb0536a83fc22b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Turner smirked like a c86e47aa0f true victor.59b69f7b545fbc9a

Lucas, who had b0459f5932 been watching this d968faf74c absurd exchange, let 8b3fc1d922 out a quiet ce89520e54 laugh, momentarily forgetting ef66f8e5a8 his irritation.017e410aacd24839

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What am I even 9bbe5c0c41 supposed to do with 4980383061 these two?c4f3bac25370ca41

By now, Yoon and 3d0791bf62 Turner had fully entered 2e0ee2ca9c their own world, deep fe342e5c16 in discussion about when c1ebc5c444 to open the bottle, 165fe1f0ab what snacks to pair ece8748d02 with it, and how 3071de24d7 best to savor the 4a614dbd3b experience.d4c07ccf5b800053

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Lucas, feeling a f1a983b81a headache incoming, pulled 2efbb5c164 out his phone a6ecb75061 and made a 23066f69fb call.3b00fb04de898102

It barely rang before 3354f51d58 a deep voice answered.bab45f4bc697f2a0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

—Do you have 1f465323c7 orders for me, de1ad9f468 sir?8a636ba906c412fd

“Has the captain of the 5th Avenue crew been visiting the casino lately?”d79082da12bd142c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

—…Yes, sir.65b0575cf30d6c5f

“Blacklist them. Effective immediately. If she’s spotted in the casino, I want a call—immediately.”32d0fa6dc9bacc14

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had warned her 186eae623b before, and yet, she 2d4030f21d had gone back anyway.bb72e86aef573acc

Fine.12548b299540726d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Then he’d df79d590c4 just ban f1913f7098 her altogether.5e430965a225f6aa

Lucas had a very 1af05064b9 specific reason for hating c07a00ceae her gambling habit.24fd865eeb5d4712

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The casino d4b6aaf83f Yoon had 1c5905120d been sneaking 7fc9ba8c38 off to b331785391 wasn’t just 7e868aadb0 any casino—it 9502dd582d was one 024f23e92a run by f18228ed6f the Maier b6db09bfa5 family.56d72a4dd41c096c

A hub for e1e668d2fc mafia, syndicates, and d23dad0280 all kinds of 7b9864f43d shady figures—the kind 8dfb7cfe30 of place where fdf3174ed1 fights broke out 41f50cc816 over nothing.b42a4ce398c6cb7c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And the aa3e010c46 real problem?20ce2139dba6a8ab

She was too aea246d4a5 damn good at cd93cb2f6c gambling.c8ded8b391685a4b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Disgustingly good.075c2bab029e91ef

Her absurdly sharp 5972484084 instincts let her 20741c226f wipe out tables, 46f70b0f4f raking in chips 5a047ebf1b like it was 88e3be0d56 nothing.de77da1d5a7a67ba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Which would have been 5af25e0f5f fine—except Yoon also had a85fd4594e an unmatched talent for 9ed4a36ccc pissing people off.0c965aaae304ed7c

She didn’t f160a9f0fd just win—she af96f930d6 won in 397cab923d the most 346ff9c424 aggravating way 1109c808d9 possible, driving 1ce20e878f people insane.1af47e9c1b5eca89

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And, of course, this 4914fbc254 led to fights. Constantly.08211c9b234c09a6

The organization’s 2246eec151 men had 1a89607a26 been groaning 7cef6a9483 about it 63c00b21d4 for ages.bcc582d188f97450

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What made it even fd4d87d483 worse?b6c8d5eb15ffbaca

She had an uncanny 8a9a4c8167 ability to vanish at bb02b89f85 the perfect moment—always escaping 0068ac058c just before she could d3fcae12a9 be officially blacklisted.2e1bc5fd97e1f874

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Honestly, he’d rather 1dd9f06fe2 she and Turner 8a9819083d just stuck to e70070cd41 raiding the Maier b40e01f23d liquor stash instead.e0c9a982c9d12dab

Lucas sighed heavily, 674d507017 staring blankly ahead.e8fc7f8554a74fa0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I handpicked my people a60d52737b for their exceptional skills—so 1a1b89e884 why the hell do 49d5987405 they all turn out ff531c4621 like this?9b9e2674289ce0c1

A new ce8f62b299 wave of cf6a49be0f exhaustion settled b33f997b5a in.fd0fa726833b3f79

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

* * *f2f8f935ca295a65

Time had d1920c7e55 moved quickly, c93045b6a7 and before 80b9c2930d she knew f00ed6e814 it, the 8e55c1f510 day of 120d6cc546 the mission 0b96f3a946 had arrived.b9d2d7622b7085cb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…It’s been a while.”c4ca950257869957

Yoon stood 5820390c04 in front 305727ee15 of the b46823464d ruins of c5928a0b68 her old 63141bd278 home, staring e00b5ade84 at it 4c5abd9217 with an 4c21ad14de expression she 1fcbaaf111 couldn’t quite ce2020753a place.5f3c9fac11276785

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Nothing remained da81e83b24 but charred 7c53cc4c21 debris, remnants c8fa050f4f of a 1a54af8fd8 past swallowed 4f3b05729b by fire.d4a5520b36ae2a61

Maybe it was because 8bfe5dd9f1 she was headed to 50ad27e64e the harbor today.27d8b9cb277903b6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Or maybe fbee704ad1 it was 357ae73126 because this b6189568f6 place had b2480a36aa always been 193c7f28ea tied to ea28e224ac the sea—not 895572e260 literally, but 7facd6538e in her 5673b760b4 memories.66162ca5750c40b1

She remembered being fc92124db6 trapped here, dreaming 33fdf9816f of the ocean b745dc4c63 with Noah.4edd13ed43fca2da

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Back then, the sea 8f87912332 was nothing more than 7b48480322 an unreachable dream—a place fc0f9f3ee7 she’d never set foot 4b24f5d699 in, a freedom she c1e1f80985 couldn’t have.c53a7a0a1574c5e9

It had a2e23dd030 been impossible b796eb9b86 to leave 14aabcf14b 5th Avenue 60a1d927a7 without protection.f814c217f9412872

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The girl 61c996db40 who once ae327232c6 dreamed of 331336b099 the ocean 08163ed636 never became dea1ce644c a seagull 9d7a3bce4c soaring across aaa6439448 the waves, 5f088c4660 but she c4b5852586 had become e12371348b a sentinel, 602b72dcc8 guarding something 023c6da2fb far bigger fce50b331d than herself.d2e243e83736684a

Her circumstances had changed 4965515755 completely—a thought she found b2841c7217 almost amusing.2ba4dfc63c2e1f4d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

As she walked slowly 725e544191 around the ruins, lost 3b521a9943 in old memories, one 96cb3ca7f8 name resurfaced in her b2bb2de035 mind.f44f5a7ccb3a3c6a

Noah.d824670b36ec5cb2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Here, put it on.”08c60cd70d7383b5

“What about you?”7787fb5b369efb08

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m fine. Just put it on.”c65b607740c2c324

“It hurts… Why do we always have to be in pain?”ae553ad72eeff047

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Be good. Just hold on a little longer. It’ll be okay soon.”c571c26179686616

It’ll all 9fa2102faa be okay.39856e167245f0e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You always said that, didn’t you?”db80061921f357b4

Her quiet voice 72f589910d dissolved into the 559f1f7abe empty air, swallowed 6fa882428e by the silence.3cbb35818cff18f3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

His words had a480413e76 always been like aa4a18fb17 magic—soothing, unwavering.4bda2043e5f4510a

Hearing them, 137e367479 even in e4f68ac030 the worst 1e20906f25 moments, made b874e739f1 her believe ce71043e95 that maybe—just 3a47f6cde4 maybe—things really 658a537e1a would be 17fc1992df okay.effdc28ab7f32156

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He was the 639a2bd321 one who always 9a8799713c patched her up 0716d181b3 first, the one 1a862e2aff who comforted her, 2a95895883 the one she 357a33f3cb called family, even 588754b5df if they didn’t 8c6f70507a share the same 291082a4f9 blood.2987c0f7958aae1a

The one with sunlit 7e793b206f golden hair and blue 77d6cf31cb eyes that gleamed like e3169693c9 gemstones—7bbd0a6ce936892b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The only warmth in 2597557cc9 her childhood.3de9484d738a7a4e

“Are you doing well?”7e5281bf0a2edd48

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m still here.”c8b0df075a61c6b0

Yoon’s fingers brushed 820a447256 against the charred 6cb8b1bc06 remains of a ff6ebe263d tree.64ec8b498c8c63f2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The once-living wood had ea7070dcd7 turned to blackened dust, a1ed7ee6ca scattering into the wind.d9a0aad307fb7b54

She stared, transfixed, 0c895638a0 watching the flecks 15628024bb drift away, disappearing f115f730cd into nothing.c530878897e37a19

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

—Why do you look 37aab909d2 so gloomy?6ae59cb0a6803c2e

A boy a149627763 had once 08c2bc4050 asked that, 2b5cc0770f crouching beside 70a307260c a sullen 99dc55772e girl.44e8427c9bc75926

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

—I’m not.6f005484ecf6c391

—Really? Are you cfb5766582 really not?6d44d4b7177506f7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His gentle, 82ba02b49e coaxing voice 2ef29d837f made the 0521d40901 girl grumble 6bcb1208f6 as she 38162dc792 absently scratched 56fdeec3db at the 23e55d1375 dirt with a207e720b7 a stick.5954fee440d58cee

Then, after a 2a4be6d3a2 long pause, she 5ce9450aae muttered, hesitant.ccba9aa8d19ed762

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

—Tch. I don’t need a name. Not one from a bastard like him.”\b527c348705a4d19

The boy, realizing eba0729345 why she was 2403deb46c so upset, let ffd6767092 out a soft 3c143b662d chuckle.9175d4db64bc4885

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—Then… how 80bf2e711b about I e2b9c1cd13 give you 5cf7c903f9 one68f1bf7f5876d737

—…You?8897edff8a495a04

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—Yeah. And you give d1a8f2f4f5 me one too.4b83201ef2b1bd78

“I don’t have a name either.”6ee76657b01cbbf6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He whispered it 38efadab6b like a secret.c4e88522c77549be

For a moment, she 4013ccaf5a thought it over—7cfe3fc8a46dd977

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Then, suddenly, a416b5c931 her face 872fbfb50d lit up.f4975222145a9bed

—Hmm… Okay!9de70b6b4dda4f86

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

From today on—25c7c5720aa7e9b2

“You’re Yoon.”1a4a0e7dfde5e382

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re Noah!”6fe743723068ae10

A fleeting fb8d487323 moment of 6bd394ee5e happiness.026c229ea9e75de3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Too brief. Too vivid.e29b09a8c5edcd9c

Not long after 0be5e55595 they had gifted b0c19966e8 each other names, 0607b6c49c Noah vanished without 3b09cb17e8 a trace.6dac31fedf341d7b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As if he had 0ac4aaa873 never existed at all.ab2905e078483fb3

“…Where the hell are you?”807f365a81ca61f3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Her voice wavered 1892ad52dc with unspoken longing.4763d6c48f7a0e98

You were the 50e4dfc9c1 first to teach aa16f0ad64 me warmth.39b9d48941b8409a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Now, you’re e8e841748e the one 83aa023482 who’s made f8746e3a06 me feel 0c3a1a2a2a this emptiness.a19bac85dfaaade9

“Noah.”2058b238f855a8fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

She had 52fb50844c screamed that 388962c8d4 name for 23c19dcbbb hours, running cf0003b890 through every 8b022b3ed3 street she 3aba78e163 could find, f709e9daa5 her voice 946f80523d going raw.7e22a6e066d60036

But time was cruel.773338164a3ec474

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

These days, she found 0008f674c1 it harder and harder 89548f5a70 to remember his face.c1b40207bc0f5553

No matter how desperately f0ad8b66a3 she tried to picture 8382093a01 him, memory itself seemed cf80a9115e to mock her, twisting 4c90915666 his image until it 95a32e55cf blurred.c66082d61f062cfd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A cold droplet slid 725109b133 down her cheek.1e1c0d8d4a30d456

Yoon lifted 7a6eed4a73 her head, 5030a706ff only to 66d70c29f0 see the a5f52a5088 sky darken.2e1f06797c9699d5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The first e096d81136 drops of e68fce71bd rain began 98b35c8bb0 to fall, b9afe48838 steady and 11b4a00141 cold.7cc3e53fb121225b

She stared at 0e6ba83bf6 them for a 328465e421 moment—5fcf00324eac40f5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Then, suddenly, chuckled.113a691155b028cc

“Looks like the waves are going to be rough today.”bf746abd4d2cbcd8

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

* * *ca197f162fa4c6d2

The sound e4fb1c03fb of crashing 1848b5dc9d waves and 2334d20a5e the salty 02ef6c29b3 scent of 360ba32ac8 the sea 0a2440ac34 filled the 2b739d8813 air as b3e58b00c7 a man 754949572f paused mid-step, 2d847601c2 his gaze 296684b2f3 drawn to ccf05541f3 the endless 6f0001d3ec blue horizon.3e770f9ddc8f8d43

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

For a 909300d687 fleeting moment, 32f41d62fd he had 2098bc17b9 the strange d245ab38f9 sensation that 078732a8f3 someone had 8a232a8959 called his 364b451536 name.a469f6fdddb7f5d8

Even though he b9b354a03c knew there was 2bb5ede473 no one who e72337f355 would, he still c04eed12f2 found himself glancing 6d738be4cd around, as if 09cfbc46c3 expecting to see 550669fc81 a familiar face.a34abd68d8ba34a9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s go to the sea someday.”29859aa478baa10f

A voice—light, 3919d411f0 cheerful, distant—whispered 06acb365c2 in his 4c49369bda mind like f80ecef39e a phantom b8dbfcb41d echo.cd6023f96653b409

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A sudden, 1da56a4312 sharp ache ce2d2bf670 pierced his 3cedc3a8b8 chest, forcing 9fcf86e4a5 him to 1514b51482 press a b9c6f7c6c0 hand against 8d02da3b39 it.f74e84f0c3aaf719

His elegant 41673f168a features twisted 18a1977019 in pain, 83d6300ded brows furrowing.7848c38f74a9ade0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…Who are you?”878f31d5370ab027

No matter how hard 74fad9eb4e he tried, the answer e6b6c8a49a remained just out of 0548d1f211 reach.9399e6a0620b3ebd

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

It was as if 9607f632f2 a heavy stone sat bc0bf7deea upon his chest, pressing 992bf250eb down on a truth 045dc67f81 that refused to surface.fa41dbe4793026b8

His earliest memory 9ae9701b8e began with the 340df1b685 icy waters of 318ef5e746 the ocean and 09e897fbe0 the concerned voices 03250d1b1a of an elderly b0c2e5b8ed couple waking him 1657c1e1d8 up.fa464772c02250e4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They had found 9b02712881 him washed ashore, f2dab21a53 battered and broken e1c44c40e4 from a severe 871c9b0069 beating, and had 7044832b48 nursed him back cb36f20abe to health.0f030d623f9a2be8

The couple, who 3e44a2b0bb owned a long-established a1eea7955e firearm shop, had f939084449 taken him in 896729a2ec as their own.9b10a666e850c5d9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

They had even 3b1277c846 given him a dd58c2d8e2 new name.e7638b5c7c69b42c

From that day forward—fd1526c33da9d7fa

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He became Roel.3654a412db18e75c

His new life was d8246b44c3 a good one.43739a33e2ba300e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Peaceful. Warm.d3318612cd70ec55

Yet every night, 91bee27da3 without fail, he f9f4eae7c6 would wake up e69f52d008 with tears streaming e50073028b down his face.5503807e41b966ef

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At first, he fd36d6f36c had felt confused.5e200f5068b60336

Then, he had 0758ddb23b felt afraid.677e392710680b57

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Now, it had be5933b620 become routine.f28af55552812287

He no longer af899407b1 questioned why he 06c437486f would wake gasping 08a7ffe4f7 for air, his 52268778c0 face damp with c37c11c796 tears he didn’t b1f2069f7c understand.ba6f4666382f7737

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Wiping the wetness 1eb3a8041e from his cheek, 18d0dcc4f8 Roel quietly picked 40007d5028 up his cup, 66f4b4a8cd stepping toward the dee2b42cf4 window.e496e3c03d46cab3

The ocean’s murmur 6590d559ef was ever-present, whispering 5844f3e828 secrets beneath the 53b11dc072 moonlight.f5e2b1e8e22e2323

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His long lashes 32641e5dca trembled faintly.9a640b3f20e58c1c

The light e72b673e5e of the 3f9bc7431e moon softened 48abebbb90 his sharp 7a0a2c257d features, casting 07e795b5d4 a glow 629ac9b728 upon his d8858d65da beautiful, melancholic 7f009c6428 face.8eb4437e5a324ea6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Who did I forget?”241c75e6a40ebb49

Family?b8f67295b55d1f94

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

A friend?59d0097abc9f6313

A lover?488d07034980e89a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

After his rescue, the 7c5db1eeeb elderly couple had searched b01fd10f57 everywhere for his relatives—yet e1b72640cc no one had ever 3ab3bc4e06 come forward.8b914fc2240aef2d

No one had fd85d6a4ba claimed him.f58e7c4d0fcdb0fa

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And every time he 3c77c18b24 woke up, drenched in 9ce1a1c0b7 those nameless tears, his e8754c3521 curiosity about the past cb0bc259e4 only grew.a4849938b665521a

Why had no one f01e0e7ad1 looked for him?b549244cb652d383

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Why had he been 4a69b8aa93 left for dead in 2469e6d913 the ocean?a98a9e513022e541

Why—179fc32b3dc0941b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But every time 80cec04039 he looked into d524ea99e1 the gentle eyes 24af9db344 of the elderly e661036b5e couple, his questions 0c5f04bcbb faded.a715f29f8f703dc1

He couldn’t betray 288131f182 them by digging b9866eda07 up a past cd44cb3fbb that no longer d04f18864e mattered.e01a7bf3febabdd7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

So, he 5ec778aeec stopped searching.330e08e1a04e8fe2

Instead, he 0ab4545835 found a b3bda220e6 different way 68d939bf30 to cope.6db6827606a2e3a0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When the restless nights 42144bc799 stretched too long, when 6577fde2b8 the ocean felt endless, 9e375ae90a when the ache in dd1832b82d his chest refused to 20cb30748d fade—ac7645fed4c45717

He picked c6dcd0be8c up a 9f31e1a5b6 paintbrush.24c1f9b421896ad4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

His canvases 6375d5e376 were filled 84031e0b6c with wistfulness, 15a2b68d86 longing, and 3083466255 an unbearable c4c83100b7 guilt—ca31a7cae92c837f

The feeling 62ec9f5b8e that he b879deda81 had forgotten 1d52060571 something he 8c4eb14e54 was never ea6a8388d6 meant to 9180ea73dd forget.adf3ee304f453c6b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Perhaps that ccef88cdb0 was why 427b70c80c people were 39e03c51fc drawn to 9d74a9d38b his art.891218884959e57b

Under the name “El”, his paintings began to rise in value, selling for increasingly extravagant prices.a186ee427fed00e5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But just as he 1e4138d9bd began to make a 4efff673df name for himself, his 9f1aab96c0 world crumbled once more.92e29936ccf1c51a

The elderly 79f2b7a75f couple, his 6491fb5795 only family, 4a90e21572 passed away 2feecfcf43 on the bbcefd4e2b same day.b226c37154c14429

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

On their 76c9a48223 deathbed, they ab37f58f6e had held 7f878f4c21 his hands e603aeb09e one last 51ba4e4198 time.29d8f56824c48257

“Thank you, Roel, for being our child.”85fd07ecfd99f604

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Now, go find yourself. Be at peace.”50329606b2ad5fc5

Did they f0d646418e already know?b41bf8900217cf1b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Had they sensed da6c460800 the buried memories 221478f8a2 he had kept e2f6b562b8 locked away?ebc7b87efe8f7794

With the 975a5f0cb5 kindest smiles, 56090766fc they had c592943592 let go, 58b09e380b sending him 4fcf7d0fde off with 8084e69698 nothing but 0c49aab21d love.0719ec006d7711df

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The deep blue 775edc4cfc of his eyes a1eb85f8b6 shimmered with unshed 88b8e3cdb2 tears.7b370b06d7427b4b

And as their 4c6ac645b6 wrinkled hands finally 3190641ecd went limp, Roel 56ae7d90d5 silently sobbed, grieving 681d1810a0 the only home 77e71cc643 he had ever d9ebc3f467 known.b84e38b829a6cd08

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Find yourself.”89a4c1b01aee2e11

The words 43ca06fda0 were meant ca54e4cbf9 as encouragement—yet 3e02baaa39 they weighed acf977ab2a on him 407a08730c like a 809ec4fa79 burden.d7e12c12089f08d4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Searching for 759ed9f8dd his lost 517e6cc4e8 past was f0eb691be6 far scarier b2013937c4 than facing f56bb7da31 an uncertain 3a3e938e74 future.406e79f841917a1c

And that fear cc13dcb4ab was what kept f1f29bcf02 his feet rooted bf81229fb9 in place.c6bc0361b6fc7eb4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I’ll just focus on work for now.”e2c170144af2a6c6

He needed time—time f9ad4f7c1c to organize his 56ee9b9244 thoughts, to make da5086b4c1 a decision.322e1028dadbee3e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So, he 23f44fd680 turned to eb638a258e work.cf9e2f5dc6313955

The elderly couple, 9f2d8e0fd6 having no children 8ff8918bd5 of their own, c9781eb05e had once intended bdf328876f to pass the 81984536d8 shop down to a26902bfbe him.2fb80829e969019b

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And now, Roel reopened 6b408650a8 the gun shop, stepping 40cfdd3efa into the role they c9385b6d4d had prepared for him.a41f77a5ca970588

It wasn’t difficult.425e024262668c4c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He had spent b4c20fd66d years assisting them, 650a184deb so handling the 06d2ba6620 business felt natural.17110ae579e3f992

That morning, he f86c64de8f opened the store 900ee69a6d as usual, tidying 29130686c2 the shelves, ensuring e7d492ed8e everything was in 30b5fa25e3 order.f4f4ea5928bffedd

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Then—5408cb784c93dd47

The chime of 7a9716ee4e the shop’s bell 66e746d98f made him turn b54ace2906 his head.a1bed689ba409d3a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Welcome—”ec0de68b8b6b5a7e

Roel greeted the customer 153cb8b921 with his usual warm 8ef2c7c983 smile—5d613530193dae1b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But then, 13aa5842e8 his words 092a968dee caught in 2d8e1d5456 his throat.45a3da501ba5581e

A man stood 461ed844b9 before him.24efc42bd7920833

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Dressed in black 0afbf6ad52 from head to 92f699cd02 toe—d6160e97f0f75470

Black shirt.88868ab314c35597

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Black suit.eb2a906101af8f03

Black tie.5fb154e78c6a62fa

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Black leather shoes.5236a1a8ca8fa3ee

A monochromatic 8e2569eea8 figure, exuding 23fde6cf04 an air 51bb37ddd5 of absolute c945c0c068 authority.ff402f40b0bf13af

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

With unwavering eefa1cbb9d steps, the 0895f42023 man closed deb89a723d the distance, 1b11633632 stopping right 63142a391e in front 0200d1eeb0 of Roel.7cce98180d47d065

A faint tremor flickered e47d59c5fe in Roel’s lashes, reacting a70f8c3b5a instinctively to the intimidating 97364eb204 presence.719f4c72ec5fb475

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But within seconds, he 41afd984ce composed himself.52c6ea87c0d3995b

“Are you looking for something in particular?”d24900ac4999e71b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man’s deep red-brown eyes swept slowly over the rows of displayed firearms, scanning them with measured interest.50bed1efd20d7cc7

It wasn’t until 4b7b641838 his gaze settled 3fabbe3e3f on one gun a314f6a6c5 that his expression 775bd6371d shifted slightly—a faint 0379fadcd5 glimmer of intrigue 3eadc75bce surfacing in his aebdc730ff stare.91783e0eae09d213

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The moment he e89f7df112 pointed to it, fe7f074ce1 Roel smoothly retrieved 1203e58a72 the revolver, placing 9f614e870a it on the 7626769418 counter with a e2c0b0c23e calm and professional eef02d3469 tone.cd754d8759b5b479

“This is the Revolver M29. It uses .44 Magnum rounds, meaning its punch and destructive power far exceed that of most handguns. One of its biggest strengths is its durability—you could fire around 75,000 rounds, and it would still hold up.”890488e4798c0250

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man’s 7fe3f20c07 fingers wrapped dcca517295 around the 918e67382c revolver, lifting cadd7272c1 it with cb501d2f0b ease.27fa6d11da0bf865

He tested its b9329dd50a weight, checked its d61d339df2 mechanisms, and examined cfbdfe0343 its grip.88b56eb1a5b08864

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It sat perfectly in 6c528e0ea7 his palm—sturdy, solid.17c8b682ba855fe0

A faint smile tugged 8f43ccfd1e at the corners of 793f1b354e Lucas’s lips.544fe02da2505a6b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

As expected of a f33a93be60 long-established gunsmith, the firearms 5a9b4bec52 in this shop were 68ae36f7fc of remarkable quality.ecfed0466abbf78a

This was precisely 003f46a19f why he had c61964d555 traveled all the a410e2eff1 way out here, ded36e19dd to a remote 4e208a1dcb port town he d6eed778ff would normally never 0c1f29a9ba visit.b8033a2c404dc1f9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“So, this is what a gun gift feels like.”f4d67e501fd232ec

Guns were 9cb842ef74 never something 8dcf8b0835 Lucas had 64d951e13f thought to 6fe71d0f90 gift before.05ef37e70ed1738b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Organization members only used 5b1f41d685 the firearms provided by f514335536 the group, so giving 0205a67786 someone a personal weapon c711db85f7 had never crossed his a45a6003bf mind.0b0a71b4d752dcc4

Even with 01ad863f9c Yoon, who 873c6ddab2 often carried e6e426845e herself like a0e319b718 she was 8621b02422 missing a 8171b05eff screw or c1f30c820b two, there 0c585c27ed was never 6cbc6ccc25 a reason 36d7c121d4 to pay 443723b7ef special attention 23784a110d to her f73de2abfb firearms.ec75e426e9c78d19

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No matter what weapon ae762e247e she was given, she 2f685e5313 always got the job 4953fdc863 done.058a624953488372

He was more 8cd25c480c used to filling d24cc413ac her apartment with 2c4dfc2840 necessities rather than 2e49d60c98 things that could 5b501d09e6 be considered gifts.89fec001855d6417

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Even something db81850213 as simple 075e395be3 as a e2306cd234 birthday had 57d36c78c7 never mattered.90ec8d38fadd7fba

She didn’t 64f11fc922 even know 2165e78cb2 her own.e30cfc24e9a3c44d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

So, he had 4837ca067e chosen one for 18b48cca3d her—the day she b6af653b50 first joined the 27724029b5 organization.654104d6e05606ce

Even that had e385c4789b been his decision 2a8f2628f1 alone.67d074a340618bd9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The first 194eff278c time he 27c820092f had asked 60b4fac687 about her d58dbb64b5 birthday, she 9334f14dfb had simply a368b5bf93 stared at 23667029a1 him, expression 87c6a4aacd blank, and 006f217a0b replied:74db9e445bd25331

“I don’t know.”0fa5f8a8c2ca8f45

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

She had never ef81ae5375 cared about birthdays, 27ef8e30fb and so, for 5649d0c066 years, Lucas had 456af0e8bb kept it simple.d279c94345968b1f

But this year, he 62335652a0 had different plans.fe3c3700e65358ef

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The problem?1e062495f3d96771

He had no 71547b9547 idea what to e2bb5bc68e give her.c3ff8ac1e1cd5a46

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“She doesn’t get attached to anything.”9cbadb9c346b76fc

People, objects—nothing b68c20c518 ever seemed 47a7e58742 to hold 2bee3920bb any meaning da6f34c950 for Yoon.ac9f3e7ce81dd300

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Even if she 883227ff0f shattered something she 244de91429 had used for d1f811ef4f eight years, she d2db33487c would just shrug 6c109224dc and replace it d47c41e892 with something else.f2e60fd59f40535f

It was those moments—the aa24293cf7 ones where she seemed 353dd80810 to treat everything as 7961a0db8e disposable—that made Lucas watch 3b16051ccb her closer.700b052b162b5882

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Especially when she sat d8b7c9bbb8 there, silently polishing her 31984b0b13 gun, lost in thought.ad453debc064c3dc

In those moments, he 4711155514 felt a bone-deep unease.946f2ed8c1476f87

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Like she might 7ec590e405 pull the trigger 526efbe78b on herself at 4834d084e4 any moment.8af3cf1435805bd5

At some point, she 925e2f80d2 had started coming home 186958c33c with wounds—9fe528aac7dd939f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Not from missions.bc33ef8aee27c58b

From where, then?3ff9edf4da3e202e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When Lucas finally put 6f2cc9c2bc the pieces together, he e7222089b0 had buried his face d5df648fe5 in his hands.357f54683d4e8573

His fingers a3fce0af8a had trembled, 28502d5ede though he b425e9e495 hadn’t been 9fddff5e01 sure why.a926ae44fa670bc2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

From that 60316674de day on, c6065545ec he made d8ed3b3c95 it a be65fd7d00 habit to 2f3c728128 check her 097d989afa body for fca13911c8 wounds.48c85c152ccd08af

And when he realized 10f6fbe03e that she never strayed b9772e2ffb during missions, he began a0c2034437 to push her harder—9209af51a447b726

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Demanding more 347ecef762 missions, forcing 64883c1126 her to 41c3bd2c98 stay occupied, 723f27e092 never giving 8570866961 her a e8ba5c30f7 moment to 35745df74f think.5631e7ffc5f3bead

She endured it 67ca2b3c9b all, until one c5ab503e41 day, she snapped—85fb323b51258105

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Storming into his 6383ab1386 office and grabbing 21b5f660bb him by the 066a8abf84 collar.ae42cf44ab8203c1

And that was d22fabf165 how Lucas silenced 85fcaf9d6b his own fears.163942da0facdded

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Now, after 373d40099a all these 1a31bda554 years, he c863f10b43 could count 7fb1e76103 only two b6ea3857d9 things that 66e96ac8bf ever seemed 57f0de979b to truly 2a4a91d5cc interest her:d3e655f101f0b543

Alcohol and guns.0e4b4ca0d8ce2c01

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I can’t let her drown in alcohol, so…”5a1c815dfcd573fb

That left only one 0758dc79c9 option.33cf5bce724d7ab4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It made him uneasy—but c0039a6f5a at the end of b6747ca875 the day, she was ba0fa9bd7c going to be holding ade3070fac a gun for the b0e87d1bc1 rest of her life.8d0f62f7b17d2c48

As long as c20f63c2af he kept watching 1782909245 over her, that 26cccf1d6b would be enough.94a3c20cdd6e4338

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

And so, he d18a0acc55 finally made his 9f1338317c choice.3edf440f51f24086

Rather than ordering from 52a670da72 the organization’s weapons supplier, 054b099a19 he wanted something personal—something 24f0d66564 Yoon wouldn’t just discard a01615c518 like any other tool.1cedb90c7b79a2d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

A sniper rifle or f07354028e a combat gun?5d6c0c01fe0ffa7e

Thinking about f17c4ef765 the constant b4a096dca0 attacks she’d a877bb76b1 been facing, 704e15e762 he settled e6ffc21def on something 76b4444a6e practical for e3ab7a75d9 close combat.e302c8a958787b90

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“This one.”c1d3f7839e461020

Lucas finalized his 435671f881 decision—the Revolver M29.00f9c793606bdda5

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

He filled b366a2cb15 out the 4230a92408 purchase documents f277c370a5 and passed 8d9ccab34f them to 1ade703121 Roel, the d61dfdf1b1 shop’s owner.3442273a16665551

Roel reviewed 203f58db90 the paperwork 58ce23787a before sending 1ba93050cf it off 92eb098407 to NICS 278dac2af4 for approval.2da953f87a4a6db8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Then, Lucas added,2a453feff844e12b

“Can you engrave something on it?”179a37e9a8567a61

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It’s possible, but it’ll take some time. Should I engrave the name on the paperwork?”5d1a074195adfb96

“Yes. Use this name.”5ebb40a01ce24103

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Lucas wrote ca988f2e95 down Yoon’s 8ee6297935 name and e87342a5c9 handed the 068d339bce paper back.bbf0ee8ea79f9fd4

Roel accepted it, his 5fdd7f9fb4 gaze flickering over the 159fbb95e7 name.6cc97db2339a816a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Yoon.2bf0963ca456946a

It wasn’t 36e361bf38 a common ce647f2fe9 name, yet fd1d03e0da something about b57494222a it felt…c569a5784093dc9a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Familiar.1f54e49ae5f260d7

“…Yoon.”cb1812a2aba1011e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The name escaped his 46e1b2cea1 lips before he even 23fe023f57 realized it.9fc51bb49c294178

Lucas’s eyes 384b905f76 narrowed slightly, f38eefa6a6 catching the d2d8277662 reaction.2c3c76792568b0ff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Is something wrong?”d2a246cee67eb3e1

Roel quickly 935668f48e regained his 090bf2ab05 composure, offering fede5771eb a polite 53fdee5b99 smile.f04089785c72a734

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No, nothing at all. I’ll set a date for pickup—please return then.”63fa537c90647a97

Lucas gave a a434ce24c4 curt nod and 2956fd9a68 exited the shop.c4c32ad1e919abb6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Now alone, Roel stood b25d8cf511 still, staring at the 47b97bdf8e name.9f59506964647675

“Yoon.”361c4f2462248977

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

It felt… 6ff6c735ea strangely familiar.22a6c2ab9b932eae

 33461c41f7d495ea

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

 807f05acf23ea54d

 a3a52c91afa83975

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator