"Sir Ace…" Her voice wavered.

I sighed and leaned back against my desk

"You can call me big brother when it's just the two of us. I only asked you to call me sir in public because I didn't want the media making up stories about us."

Right now, I was the hottest topic in the city so I needed to protect my image all the time.

"B-Big brother…" Her hand never stopped moving. "C-Can I just… hide until my birthday? Please. Once I'm at legal age, I will cut ties with them completely. I don't want anything to do with them anymore."

I tapped my chin, studying her.

"Hai-Min, be honest with me. Why do you hate your family so much?"

Her lips parted but she never said a word.

I rested a hand on her head. "Don't worry. I'm here for you. No matter what it is—I'll be on your side."

She bit her lip hard, trying to keep it in, but my soothing gesture broke her walls.

"I… I told you this before, but…" She swallowed hard. "We were poor before my big sister awakened. Really poor."

"And during that time… my mother was an alcoholic…She drank all day and spent her time with bad people."

Her voice dropped even lower.

"My big sister got it good," she said. No bitterness—just a flat, tired truth. "She was with my father. So she didn't have to experience it."

My fist clenched. I didn't like where this was going. Not one bit.

"Hai-Min," I said carefully, loosening my hand before she noticed. "You don't have to keep going if you don't want to."

She shook her head gently. "It's okay, big brother,"

"They never touched me. But their looks… the way they smiled when my mom wasn't watching. It scared me."

Her shoulders curled inward, like she was trying to make herself smaller.

"Did you ever tell your sister? Or your father? Even your mother… I'm sure she would've listened, at least. No matter how unreliable she was."

Hai‑Min sighed deeply.

"I did...Repeatedly."

Her fingers twisted together. "But they either ignored me… or just didn't listen."

She took another deep breath before continuing. "My mother was still bringing other men into the house, like nothing had changed. I was tired of dealing with it. Tired of pretending it was normal so I left home."

"My father barely looked at me. Like I reminded him of something he didn't want to remember."

"And your sister?" I asked.

"My sister moved to a different place. So we barely talked anymore."

What a toxic family.

Most people didn't come out of that kind of environment intact—let alone gentle. It was almost cruel how they treated her.

"I get the gist of it." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Thanks for being honest with me. You can go now. I won't force you to meet your sister again."

Her head snapped up. "But what if she causes you trouble?"

I smiled. "Don't worry. Who do you think I am?"

"Thank you." She let out a breath she been holding for far too long.

"Thank you again, Big Brother Ace. I promise I'll repay this favor once I'm 18..."

She stopped herself.

"I—I didn't mean it like that," she blurted. "I just meant—when I'm older. When I'm more capable."

I chuckled softly and raised a hand, cutting her off before she could say any more embarrassing things.

"Relax," I said. "I know exactly what you meant."

She peeked at me from the corner of her eyes, cheeks pink. "I really didn't mean it like that,"

"You don't owe me anything," I continued. "This isn't a debt. It's just what family does."

"…Family," she repeated, testing the word like it might break.

I nodded. "That's right. We might not be related by blood, but I treat you like my own."

"So even if you were betrayed before by the people who were supposed to protect you—I promise you this." I spoke slowly, making sure every word landed. "It won't happen with me."

Her eyes started to tear up. She blinked quickly, trying to hide it, but a few tears slipped anyway.

Before I could say anything, she bowed her head. "I'll take my leave now,"

She probably didn't want me to see her like this—and I could understand why.

No one wants their pain exposed, not even to someone they trust. Not even to someone who promised to protect them.

Watching her back as she walked away, I felt a quiet satisfaction. I was glad I waited. Glad I hadn't forced her or tried to manipulate her into something she wont like.

However, that didn't change the fact that she got a trauma.

It was my responsibility to protect her. Not just as her big brother, not just as her boss… but as someone who might be her partner in the future.

And I would make sure that, no matter what came, she would never have to face that kind of pain alone again.

'Now… time to handle her big sister,' I dialed the phone number Hai-Yen gave me earlier.

The line rang once… twice… and then a familiar voice picked up.

(Hello?)

I straightened in my chair. "Hai-Yen, this is Ace Mercer, guild leader of DEGEN GUILD."

(Did you talk to my sister?)

"Yes," I replied. "And I wanted to speak with you personally about her. Maybe we could grab dinner while we're at it?"

There was a short pause on the other end.

(Alright,) she responded. (Send me the time and place.)

"Will do."

The call ended.

I lowered the phone, already knowing this dinner wasn't going to be a simple conversation.

It could very well turn into a heated argument. Sharp words. Tense stares. Maybe even a clash neither of us wanted but both of us were ready for.

.I run a hand through my hair.

I was ready to face it. Ready to make her understand. Ready to protect Hai-Min, no matter what.

.

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