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Chapter 23 - Eyes That Knew Too Much. Lips That Said Too Little.

Scene: The Unexpected Reunion

The night had wrapped the New York skyline in its shimmering embrace when everyone dressed up and left for Master Shifu's private restaurant. The air buzzed with anticipation, but for one heart—it pounded with longing.

As soon as they entered the warmly lit restaurant, Prizey couldn't hold back. Her eyes sparkled with emotion as she spotted a familiar silhouette at the far end. Without a second thought, she ran forward and wrapped her arms tightly around the old man in white robes.

"Master Shifu!" she choked, her voice trembling. "I missed you so much... Where did you go? Was it just Kung Fu that connected us? Did you never think of me as your daughter?"

Master Shifu's eyes softened as he placed a trembling hand on her head. "No, my child… never. How could I ever forget my innocent Dazy?"

His words were interrupted.

His breath hitched.

His eyes locked onto something behind her—someone.

Simon.

He stood there casually, whistling with his hands tucked into his pockets, his presence echoing arrogance and secrets.

Master Shifu froze.

His heartbeat began to race.

He coughed suddenly, his gaze not leaving Simon for even a second. He looked as if he'd seen a ghost.

Prizey turned in concern. "Master? What happened? Are you okay?" she asked, stepping closer, worry etched across her face.

But Master Shifu didn't respond.

He continued coughing, visibly shaken.

Simon began walking toward them—slow, deliberate steps.

A wicked smile crept onto his face.

And then he did it.

He raised a finger to his lips and whispered, "Shhh…"

A warning.

A command.

A threat.

Everyone at the table noticed the tension. Their eyes widened in confusion.

And then Simon tilted his head with mock sweetness. "Aww, my dear grandpa... so shocked to see me?" he said with a smile too cruel to be genuine.

The entire table gasped.

"Grandpa??"

Simon reached Master Shifu, leaned in, and whispered something only the old man could hear.

"Shhh… not now."

Master Shifu's eyes glistened—not just with tears, but with decades of hidden truth.

And Prizey, standing just a few steps behind… had no idea her world was about to change forever.

Scene: Secrets on the Table

Simon's devilish grin widened. His eyes locked onto Master Shifu's shaken ones as he took a leisurely step forward.

"Oh, Grandpa," Simon drawled, voice dripping with false affection. "How could you ever forget me? I'm your most favorite grandson… am I right?"

He winked.

Master Shifu understood immediately.

A forced smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Oh... Si—Simon," he stumbled. "You've grown so much. Where… where are your parents these days?"

Simon, meanwhile, smirked in his mind.

"Parents? You're really asking that, Third Guardian?"

Before the awkward silence could grow thicker, Prizey rushed between them like a storm.

She shoved Simon back, shielding her master with protective fury.

"This can't be happening!" she shouted. "Master… why didn't you tell me? And you!" She turned to Simon, eyes blazing. "You bloody bastard! You're not his grandson!"

Simon didn't flinch. Instead, he calmly placed a hand on her shoulder, smirking.

"Oh darling… calm down. I think you just need a little more time to accept reality."

"Shut up, Simon or else I will kill you!" she snapped, swatting his hand away. Her voice cracked. "And Master—" she turned to the man she trusted more than anyone— "I don't want to talk to you anymore. I'm not even eating dinner!"

Master Shifu stepped forward, a pained look in his eyes.

"Oh… my innocent Dazy," he whispered, voice trembling. "I just found out myself… that he's my grandson."

Prizey blinked. "What??"

He tried to smile, though it barely reached his eyes. "Anyway… come on, everyone. Let's eat. We'll talk later."

Aliyah quietly reached for Prizey's hand and gently led her toward the dining table. Prizey didn't protest, but her expression stayed thunderous as she sat down, crossing her arms with a huff.

On the other end of the long wooden table, Master Shifu and Simon sat across from one another—quiet, calm, calculating.

But they weren't really silent.

Their minds were speaking louder than words.

---

Simon, taking a bite, eyes locked on the old man:

"So… you survived. But how? That attack should've ended you."he is talking to the master shifu but in through his mind.

Master, calm but solemn:

"Your grandfather saved me. He took the hit in my place."

Simon, now tense:

"And all these years? Where were you? Did you not care where I was, how I survived? Did you even think about me, Master?"

Master Shifu, guilt heavy in his tone:

"It wasn't like that, Simon. I was given an order… to stay hidden and protect Prizey. I had to keep the truth from you—for her sake."

Simon, a quiet breath:

"You still don't get it, Master. I needed you. And now… don't you dare leave me again. Please… don't disappear."

Master, voice soft as the moonlight:

"Never, my child. Never again."

But what neither of them realized… was that someone else was listening.

Eavesdropping not with ears—but through telepathy.

A third presence.

Someone sitting right there at that dinner table… pretending to smile… pretending to eat…

But very much aware.

And Simon?

Simon knew exactly who it was...

As dinner ended and the group prepared to leave the restaurant, Sonia lingered behind for a moment. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of gratitude and something deeper.

"Master..." she said softly, "Thank you so much for these beautiful hours. I mean... do you care for me like you do for Prizey...?"

Her voice faltered, the words trailing with quiet hope. But before Master Shifu could respond, Prizey's tone cut through, calm yet curt.

"No, Master... we're leaving now," she said, stepping forward with a forced smile. "It was good seeing you. And yes—I'm still upset with you. But even so... it's alright."

She turned to go, her eyes carefully avoiding Simon's.

The soft lighting of the restaurant dimmed as they stepped toward the door, shifting into a pale yellow hue that glowed like moonlight—gentle, melancholic, lingering. It felt like a silent farewell echoing in the silence between them.

Master Shifu stood at the entrance, watching them quietly. His eyes paused on Prizey, softening with a father's affection—one mixed with a weight only he seemed to carry. Then, almost as if speaking to hersoul, he murmured:

"Take care of yourself, my child. And always remember—you are someone's hope... someone's love… someone's priority, someone's life... someone's soul."

His gaze lingered meaningfully—not at Prizey—but past her, resting firmly on Simon.

Prizey hesitated. For a fleeting moment, her heartbeat stilled. She didn't dare turn around, but she felt it—the weight of something unspoken between her Master... and the boy behind her.

Simon stood frozen. His usually unreadable face cracked, for just a second, as those words hung in the air like the last breath before a storm.

> "Why did it sound like that was meant for me?" he thought silently, his eyes narrowing just a little.

Outside, the breeze picked up, rustling the trees near the sidewalk. A distant wolf's howl echoed faintly from the far-off hills—barely audible, but enough to send a ripple through Simon's chest.

Prizey swallowed her emotions and walked on, not once looking back.

Simon gave a faint, pained smile.

Prizey looked confused. "Master, what do you mean? Who is this someone?"

Master chuckled lightly. "Nothing, child. I was just speaking from the heart. You're everything to your mother, aren't you? Just... take care of yourself for her."

Prizey smiled softly.

Aliyah chimed in with mock jealousy, "Master, what is this? I've known you since childhood! How did Prizey suddenly become your favorite?"

Everyone laughed.

Max joined in, hugging Aliyah playfully. "Oh my dear, you'll always be my favorite."

The group all cooed in unison, "Awww," as Aliyah blushed.

Master smiled kindly. "Aliyah, no one could ever take your place. And no one can take Prizey's either."

He stood, looking at the group fondly. "Alright, it's getting late. And since you're all on vacation—go on, enjoy yourselves. Goodbye, children."

They all made their way back to the hotel.

Except for one...

---

Scene: Midnight on the Mountain

2:30 a.m. A cold wind howled over the highest mountain peak.

Xavier stood alone, staring up at the moon.

"So... you saw him too, didn't you, Master?" he asked softly.

Master stepped up beside him. "Of course I did. And if you recognized him on the first day... then surely he recognized you as well. Did something happen between the two of you?"

Xavier inhaled deeply. "No… not exactly. But one thing I know for sure—he came here for Prizey. Wait… could it be that those creatures—?"

Before he could finish, Master cut in, his tone grave.

"You're right. They know about her. And maybe… they even know that she is the key. The key to unlocking a very old, very dangerous mystery."

Xavier's eyes widened. "Oh my god… that means my Prizey isn't safe. That's why two of those creatures already tried to hunt her down. She survived both times, but the next enemy is among us."

Master turned toward him, his face tense. "This is no small matter, Xavier. If you truly want to save your family—you'll have to act."

"But Master…" Xavier began, when suddenly—

A gust of wind blew hard, and out of nowhere, an old man appeared before them.

Xavier's eyes widened in disbelief. Tears welled up.

"G–Grandpa?" he choked.

He ran to the old man and embraced him tightly, sobbing like a lost child.

Master stepped forward, equally shocked. "Am I dreaming...? Or is this really the most generous, kindhearted, powerful king of the werewolf realm—the king of kings—the great Xavier the Warrior, standing before us?"

The old man smiled, stroking his long beard with one hand and placing the other gently on Xavier's head.

"It's me, my grandson. I heard your cry. You needed me… didn't you?"

Xavier broke the hug, wiping his tears. "Why did you leave so soon, Grandpa?"

The old man's voice was calm. "Warriors never truly die, my son. They return in different forms... with a new identity. That's why I named you after myself—Xavier. If I was a warrior... then so must my grandson be. And warriors don't cry… they make their enemies cry. Understood?"

Master added gently, "And no one can hold your hand forever, child… one day, we all must learn to let go."

Xavier nodded solemnly.

Master turned to the old man. "So, Master Xavier… what brings you here tonight?"

The old man smiled. "I was missing my grandson…"

He looked at Xavier, who had slipped into thought.

"Xavier?" the old man called. "What's on your mind?"

Xavier blinked, returning to the present. "Nothing, Grandpa… I just… I miss Mom and Dad. Where are they now? What are they doing? And me… what am I even—?"

Grandpa interrupted gently. "Relax, my boy. I know it's hard. But becoming a warrior isn't as easy as it sounds."

Master placed a hand on Xavier's shoulder. "In this journey, you'll lose loved ones… you'll have to change who you are. And most of all—you must believe in yourself. Because only belief leads to victory. Understood?"

Xavier looked at both of them. And for the first time in a long while... he smiled with confidence.

He wasn't alone in this journey.

---

Scene: Prizey's Thoughts

Prizey was lost in thought, standing under the warm spray of her shower.

"Oh my God… how did I forget about Mr. Strange and that creepy villa with everything that's been going on?"

Her mind spun.

"No, I have to solve this mystery… but how? That means I'll need to go back into the forest. And I only have a few days left…"

She sighed.

"And if I tell anyone, they'll never let me go."

Then her eyes lit up with a spark of rebellion.

"Alright… I have a plan."

---

Scene: Dream Reader's Chamber – Church

Inside a sacred room at the church, the Dream Reader lay unconscious on the bed.

Grandpa stood nearby. "So… you're saying that revealing Prizey's nightmares triggered all of this?"

Master nodded gravely. "Exactly. And since then, she's been afraid of the name Xavier too."

Xavier frowned. "Ugh! But I'm not some ghost. I'm just an innocent little werewolf…"

Grandpa replied sternly, "This isn't about fear. It's about a curse."

Xavier's eyes widened. "What?"

The three of them stood in a circle around the bed.

Master added, "King Xavier is right. I remember this woman. She used to live among werewolves."

Grandpa continued the story. "She was once gifted—able to read dreams and understand their powers. That's why our ancestors allowed her to stay. But…"

He clenched his fists.

"She betrayed us. She leaked our secrets to those twisted creatures. My father, the king back then, found out and banished her. But she already knew… that a day like this would come when—"

Before he could finish, the Dream Reader began to convulse violently.

Xavier rushed forward and began chanting calming spells.

"What's happening to her?" he cried.

Grandpa's face was grim. "As I said… it's a curse. And not an ordinary one. It's from something—or someone—so powerful, we may never know the full extent."

Xavier's voice cracked. "Then what do we do?"

Master stepped back. "Let her be… let her writhe if she must. There's nothing more we can do right now."

Eventually, the Dream Reader calmed… but remained unconscious.

The three of them exchanged solemn glances.

Something had begun.

Got it! Since you're working on a supernatural romance with layered characters and emotional beats, I'll convert and polish the full scene you provided into smooth, fluent English novel style. Here's the polished version:

---

Chapter: Moonlight Confessions

The next day began with a mix of anticipation and tension.

Prizey stared out of the window, lost deep in thought.

"Ugh, no matter what, I have to go into that forest… today or tomorrow. But I need a plan first."

Aliyah's voice pulled her back to reality.

"Prizey's lost in her own world again. Hellooo? Miss Daydreamer?"

Prizey blinked, startled, then quickly covered.

"Oh no, nothing like that. I was just… thinking about what we should do today."

Max chimed in from the front seat.

"Alright guys, here's the plan — we're going to explore the city today. And tonight…"

Before he could finish, Prizey cut in hastily.

"Tonight? Oh yeah, of course, at night we'll… um, go to sleep, right?"

Everyone turned to look at her. Her awkward smile did little to ease the sudden attention.

Lina tilted her head. "Are you okay, Prizey?"

Sweat beaded on Prizey's forehead. She wiped it off, trying to sound casual.

"Yes! Yes, I'm totally fine. Why? Why are you asking?"

Louis smiled innocently. "You're acting kinda cute right now."

Simon shot Louis a death stare.

John teased, "Aww, I think Prizey's not feeling well today. Am I right, dear?"

Simon in his mind...."aghhhhh, I will kill both of you. Right now!"

Prizey quickly dismissed the thought. "No, no! I'm fine. Really. I just… I'll be right back. You guys carry on planning."

She stepped out of the car and headed toward the hotel.

Simon's eyes followed her. "So my Prizey's hiding something… interesting."

Meanwhile, Prizey muttered under her breath, "Ugh! What am I doing? If I keep this up, they'll start suspecting me. Duffer!"

After a few minutes, she returned.

Aliyah approached her. "You okay now?"

Prizey nodded with a forced smile. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

Simon leaned in. "So… shall we go, Miss Mystery?"

Prizey threw him a sharp side-eye and climbed into the car without a word.

---

[Scene: City Adventures – New York]

They spent the day roaming the vibrant city—Times Square's chaos, Central Park's calm, and the mysterious charm of little vintage bookstores tucked away in the alleys.

Aliyah haggled with a street vendor, Max accidentally dropped his hotdog on a pigeon (and swore it gave him a dirty look), and Louis tried to impress Rozy by reading her palm—only to predict she'd be "married to an alien king."

John and Simon nearly got into a dance-off with a street performer. Prizey laughed so hard she cried.

But through the laughter, her eyes often drifted toward the dark alleys, or the shadows cast by the old buildings. She was searching… for something else.

And Simon? He noticed every glance.

---

[Nightfall: Hotel - Rooftop Pool]

By the time they returned to the hotel, everyone was exhausted. One by one, they slipped into their rooms.

Except for three.

Aliyah, John, and Prizey sat in their suite, still wide awake.

Outside, under the moonlight, Simon was alone in the rooftop pool, letting the cool water wash away the weight of his thoughts.

Prizey stood, stretching.

"I'm ordering coffee. Anyone else want some?"

Aliyah raised a hand. "Yes please. Get one for Simon too—he's in the shower. He'll need it."

Prizey paused, squinting at her.

"Wait, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Aliyah chuckled, but John was less amused.

"I'll take it to him," he offered quickly.

Aliyah stopped him with a fake serious face.

"No, John. I need to talk to you about something really important. Like, super important. Life-changing."

John frowned but sat back down. Prizey rolled her eyes.

"Fine. I'll do it."

She stepped out of the room, coffee in hand.

---

[Poolside Under the Moon]

Prizey reached at the rooftop of the hotel and stepped out toward the glowing rooftop pool. What she saw made her stop in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat.

There he was — Simon. In the moonlight. Shirtless, his pale, sculpted body glistening with water, long black hair slicked back with both hands, eyes closed in calm serenity. His blood-red lips shimmered under the moon's glow.

The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them.

"Oh. My. My… I love this guy."

Simon opened his eyes and met hers with a piercing gaze. That was all it took—Prizey instantly covered her face, turning away in embarrassment.

Simon smirked, knowing exactly what had just happened.

"Oh my my…" he echoed teasingly. "You love this guy? Really, my devilish Prizey?"

Prizey stumbled over her words. "No! I… I mean, I don't love you! I just… I brought coffee! That's all! Nothing else!"

Simon swam over to the edge. "Coffee?"

She kept her eyes shut, placing the cup on the edge. But as she turned to leave, Simon grabbed her wrist—and pulled her straight into the pool.

Her black button-down shirt clung to her soaked skin, outlining her curves like a second skin. Simon's gaze flicked down, a mix of hunger and restraint flickering in his eyes.

He pressed her back gently against the edge of the pool, pinning her in place.

Prizey couldn't breathe. Her heart thundered in her chest as Simon leaned in.

"Si–Sim–Simon… What are you… doing?"

Before she could finish, he placed a finger against her lips.

"Shhh… darling."

And then he kissed her.

It was slow, fiery, and deep. Her world blurred. His lips moved from hers to her cheeks… then down to her neck, leaving soft bites as he unbuttoned the top of her shirt.

Just as he reached the third button, Simon suddenly stopped, stepping back. His breathing heavy, his eyes dark.

Prizey stayed still, dazed, lips parted.

Simon chuckled, voice low.

"Relax, darling. I haven't even done anything yet. But you… you're the one seducing me now."

He winked, grabbed the coffee, wrapped himself in a towel, and walked away.

Prizey was left standing in the pool, staring after him, still unsure whether what

just happened was real.

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