Then she paused, as if remembering something important. Her gaze sharpened slightly. "And if anyone dares to bully you… call me."
Her voice turned firm. "I'll be there."
Hearing those words... James nodded. But his vision blurred slightly. 'It's been… so long…'
Since someone had spoken to him like that. Since someone had cared. After his grandmother passed away... no one came. No one stayed.
Sometimes, thugs would break into his house, ransacking everything, taking whatever little he had left. He never fought back. He didn't dare. 'If I resist… I'll die…'
So he endured. He swallowed everything. His anger. His fear. His humiliation.
'I have to survive… I have to take revenge on the Gladio family… I have to make sure… those who treated me like nothing… regret it…'
So he pretended. Pretended to be indifferent. But inside... he was always on edge. Always anxious.
And now... things were different. There was a place to stay. Food to eat. No constant fear pressing down on his chest.
