Ryan could not sleep.The whole night felt heavy. The house was quiet, but his mind was not. He sat on the couch in the living room with his hands pressed together. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Clara’s uncle’s face. That cold look. That sharp stare. That strong hatred he did not hide well.Ryan had been judged many times in life, but this one felt different. The hatred from Clara’s uncle came too fast. Too strong. Too sudden. And Ryan kept asking himself the same question over and over again…“Why? Why did he hate me at first sight?”He replayed everything in his head. The moment the man entered the house. The way he smiled at Mrs Harrison. The way he hugged Clara. The way he carried himself with pride. And then… the way his face had changed the moment he saw Ryan standing beside Ava.The smile faded.The eyes narrowed.The body stiffened.And in that first second, Ryan had felt it—the dislike, the anger, the rejection. The man had looked at him like he was a danger. Like

Chapter 153Ryan woke up very early the next morning. Sleep did not stay long with him because his mind was troubled. He kept thinking of one thing:Why did Clara’s uncle hate him the moment he saw him?He lay on the bed for a while, staring at the ceiling. He felt something in his chest, a kind of quiet warning. Something was wrong, but he did not know what it was.Clara was still sleeping beside him, holding his hand. Ryan looked at her peaceful face and forced a smile. He reached out and brushed her hair gently.“I will not let anything happen to you,” he whispered.He got up and went to the window. The compound was quiet. Birds were singing. But even with the peaceful morning, Ryan still felt something heavy in his heart.After dressing up, he went downstairs. Mrs Harrison was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Clara’s uncle sat in the living room reading a newspaper, but he was not really reading. His eyes were moving, but his mind seemed far away.When Ryan entered the

The next morning was bright and peaceful. Birds were singing outside the window. Inside the sitting room, Mrs Harrison—Grace—sat on the sofa with Clara and Ava.Ava looked stronger and brighter now. She had fully recovered, and she sat comfortably with a small smile on her face.“Mummy,” Ava said, “I feel better now. I think I am ready to go back to school.”Mrs Harrison touched her hair gently. “My daughter, are you sure you are strong enough?”Ava nodded. “Yes, Mum. I rested well. I ate well. And the doctor already said I am fine.”Clara smiled. “I am happy you are going back. Staying at home was making you bored.”Ava laughed. “Very bored.”They all laughed for a few seconds until Mrs Harrison suddenly became quiet. Her face changed a little.Clara noticed it. “Mum, what is it? You look worried.”Mrs Harrison sighed and looked at her hands. “There is something I want to tell both of you.”Ava and Clara looked at each other, then back at her.“What is it?” Ava asked.Mrs Harris

Ryan woke up very early the next morning, but his heart was not calm. He barely slept the whole night. He kept thinking about Clara’s uncle and the strange way the man hated him from the first moment he saw him. But what troubled Ryan the most was what he overheard the previous evening—Clara’s uncle wanted to bail Eric out of the station.He still could not understand why. Why would a grown man be interested in helping a drug dealer? Why would he want to bring Eric out when Eric caused so much pain?Ryan walked around the room in slow steps, rubbing the back of his neck. He needed answers. And the only person he trusted enough to talk to was Deputy Cole—his best friend, his brother in uniform, the one who always told him the truth.After taking a quick bath, Ryan dressed up and left the house quietly. Clara and Ava were still asleep, and Mrs. Harrison was busy in the kitchen. He didn’t want to worry them yet. He needed to hear from Cole first.The morning breeze hit his face as h

Ryan stepped out of the bar slowly. The cool night air touched his skin, but it did not calm him at all. His head was full, his heart was hot, and his mind was confused. He could still hear Deputy Cole’s words in his ears:“I am really sorry, Ryan… but I don’t think I can stop him from bailing Eric.”Those words kept hitting Ryan again and again. He walked out of the bar with his hands in his pockets, breathing hard. He needed air. He needed space. He needed peace. But the night felt too heavy.He walked down the road slowly, looking at the ground. Street lights were on, but the whole place still felt dull. His steps were slow at first, but then he picked up a little speed when he reached the corner of the street.He walked past a closed shop.He walked past a quiet restaurant.He walked past a man selling roasted corn.Everything looked normal.But then…Ryan suddenly felt something strange behind him. A feeling. A small warning in his heart. He did not know why, but he lifted his he