"Then how could you say that you will not ask for a second chance? Do you think I will not give you one?!"

"I… I know that you will give me one, at least I wish you would…." Clarke tightened his hug as he continued. "But I know you don't deserve me because for you… I'm just an ugly monster, right?"

Gaius was shocked by that statement. He looked over his shoulder and saw Clarke's tears drop on his shoulder. He was crying in silence, "A-Ah, I'm sorry that you see me crying like this…."

[Wait, does this mean… Clarke is that ugly monster? But how come I can't sense the connection? There is no blood chain between our hearts, and there is no spark when our eyes meet.]

[Pupa: I'm not sure. I told you, everything about that monster is an anomaly. He is unpredictable and dangerous.]

[I have to make sure! I already promised that I'd sacrifice one world for him. I will keep my promise!]

"Why… why did you say that to yourself?" Gaius asked. 

"Because—" Clarke wanted to say that he had a dream about them being in a different world, and Clarke had imprisoned Gaius until he was reduced from a bright man into a waste.

But he didn't think Gaius would believe him. And it might sound ridiculous, even for Clarke, the whole thing was ridiculous. 

Yet, he decided to believe it purely based on his instinct. 

An instinct that he was a monster. 

"There is no need for you to know, Wife. Just please let me have my time. This is the last, I promise," Clarke suddenly grabbed Gaius' arms and turned him so they could face each other. 

Gaius looked up, but before he could say anything, Clarke planted a kiss on his lips. 

Gaius was stunned, but he didn't reject it. He let Clarke explore his lips and mouth in this passionate kiss. They were longing for each other, especially for Clarke, who had just realized how precious his Wife was, but it was all too late. 

Everything was in ruin. His life was ruined now.

"Mmmh… ah… Husband…" Gaius mumbled in-between their kissing session. He draped his hands on Clarke's shoulder. Meanwhile, Clarke was holding Gaius' waist and pulled him deeper. 

"Wife… I… I love you…." Clarke gave Gaius the last deep kiss before separating himself. 

Gaius was still recovering from the hot, long kiss session between them. After realizing that Clarke had pushed him away, he got surprised and called him, "Wait, Clarke!"

Clarke smiled bitterly as he distanced himself, "There is no need for you to remember me anymore, Wife. I will never show up in front of you and the kids anymore."

"Please be happy with your life. If you want some money, I'm in the process of selling all of my assets and putting it in your bank account, so it'll be your money…."

"I love you, Wife, and I love the kids too… I'm sorry that I'm a terrible Dad and Husband…."

"No, wait!" Gaius got up and dashed, trying to catch Clarke to no avail. Because Clarke just flew and left Gaius alone. 

"Husband…" Gaius grasped the air, and he fell to the ground. He didn't know why his heart still grieving over his failed relationship with Clarke. He should be happy that Clarke finally let him go.

But deep down, he knew that his heart was reserved only for Clarke. They were meant to love each other despite so many bad twists and turns. 

[Damn it! I want to know whether he is that monster or not!]

[Pupa: Do you really have to find him? He might be in the next world, you know.] 

[No, I have a feeling this might be my last time meeting him. It's a gut feeling, but this gut feeling is so strong, I cannot just ignore it.]

Gaius was worried, and with this ominous feeling in his heart, Gaius finally returned to the festival absentmindedly. 

He bought a few foods that he wouldn't eat, but it would make him less suspicious since Reed would definitely suspect something was wrong when he returned without any food. 

Gaius sat on a reserved seat as he watched a father-son relay race on the track field. 

Other parents were cheering on their family, while Gaius didn't have the urge to do so. He was too distraught right now. 

So he just gave a smile to Hermes and Reed and said, "You guys can do it."

"Yes, Mom! I will win the race and give you the first rank medal!" Hermes said excitedly. He was so absorbed with the race that he didn't realize something was wrong with his Mom.

But Reed noticed something was amiss with Gaius, especially after he said that Artemis was sleeping inside the car right now. But it wasn't the best time to confront him about it.

As the race started, Reed dashed straight and put a big margin with the rest of the people because he had the same infinite stamina as Clarke, albeit not the strength. 

He passed the baton to Hermes. Contrary to what he expected, Hermes waited for others to pass their baton and then started running with them.

But he didn't do it out of fair play. He did it because he knew he could win nonetheless.

[Pupa: Even your son inherit your petty nature.]

[Hey! That's not petty nature. That's him being a little jerk!]

[Pupa: That's the same thing.]

"Woah!"

"Whoo!"

"He's so fast!"

The cheers showered in Hermes' side as he passed everyone so easily. After he passed the finish line, his friends surrounded and congratulated him.

Reed approached Gaius instead. They were watching from afar as Hermes looked so proud standing in the podium.

"Our son is amazing, don't you think?" Reed said.

"Indeed. He is amazing," Gaius smiled thin. He continued staring at Hermes, who was basically a carbon copy of his Dad, Clarke. So when he saw Hermes smile, he also remembered how Clarke smiled and looked so happy, unlike his current self.



Somehow, Gaius felt guilty that he was the one who made Clarke sad.

Reed saw the smile linger in that beautiful lips, and then he realized something… 

Gaius' lips were unreasonable red, and there was a small cut at the edge, showing that his lips might've been nibbled by someone an hour ago.

Reed clenched his fist, he knew the perpetrator, but he didn't want to confront Gaius directly, knowing this was the time for Hermes to have fun at this school festival.

"Did you have fun with Artemis at the food festival?" Reed asked. 

"We did. She ate too much. That's why she has to sit in the car," Gaius replied. "Don't worry, I already told the bodyguards to protect her inside the car."

"All bodyguards that I had dispatched?"

"Indeed."



Reed sneered. He realized how naive he was to think that Gaius had moved on from Clarke.

Gaius must've intentionally stuffed Artemis until she got full and sleepy, then she could rest inside the car while Gaius went back to the festival alone and met with Clarke. 

'Do you think you can fool me, Gaius? You should know that I'm well equipped with everything.'

'I will make sure that you will be mine completely.'