The soft crunch of gravel under the tires sounded rhythmically before Owen's SUV came to a complete stop at a campsite by a stream in Blackwood Forest, a forest renowned for its pure and tranquil beauty.
The moment the car doors opened, the fresh, cool forest air rushed into everyone's lungs. It was the true scent of nature... the smell of damp earth after last night's light rain, the cool and refreshing scent of pine resin, and the sound of a clear stream flowing over rocks nearby, a welcoming song. The peaceful and shady atmosphere under the tall trees was filled with a sense of relaxation and anticipation for a happy weekend.
"Wow! The air is amazing!" Julian was the first to shout with excitement. He stretched his arms to their absolute limit as if to release all his pent-up energy from the journey, before running to the stream like a child let loose in a wide field.
As the others were helping to unload the luggage from the car, Julian grumbled, "I'm so glad we finally made it camping! I was about to die from withdrawal when Owen called to say we had to postpone last week."
Owen gave a strained laugh as he lifted a large tent from the back of the car. "Sorry about that. I was tied up with some urgent 'business' that just came up." He deliberately emphasized the word "business." "But I promise I'll make it up to you today!"
"That's right," Clara added sweetly as she walked over to link arms with Damian, but her eyes darted meaningfully to the broad back and the muscles that moved under Owen's t-shirt. "Owen must have had something really important to do. But for now, let's just have fun, my love~"
Damian nodded, unsuspecting. He smiled warmly and turned to pat Owen's shoulder lightly. "Don't worry about it, Owen. I get it. Work has to come first."
After that, Damian and Julian went off to gather firewood and prepare the barbecue grill, leaving Owen and Clara to set up the tent alone... and that was when the relaxing atmosphere began to shift into an invisible heat.
The two pretended to be busy setting up the tent, but they found every opportunity to secretly touch. It started with small things... fingers that deliberately lingered a little too long when Owen handed her a tent stake... gazes so hot they could almost burn off each other's clothes every time they met.
"Clara, could you pull that rope a little tighter," Owen said in a flat voice, but he deliberately leaned in from behind to "teach" her the correct way to pull the rope up close.
His warm breath on her ear and neck sent shivers down her spine. His masculine scent, mixed with his faint sweat, was so seductive she almost went crazy. She could feel his hard chest pressing against her back... and worse... she could clearly feel the hardness that was slowly pressing against her buttocks through the fabric of his sweatpants!
"Ah... like... this?" she asked, her voice trembling, deliberately arching her rounded hips against his crotch, slowly grinding her soft ass cheeks against his hot member... a wordless invitation.
Owen gritted his teeth. He had to use all his willpower to suppress the primal instinct to flip her over and slam into her right then and there... in the middle of the forest, where her husband could be watching at any moment. The risk was so thrilling his heart pounded.
"Yes... just like that... Pull it tight," he replied, his voice hoarse, before forcing himself to slowly pull away, leaving Clara panting with a mix of regret and hunger.
When the tents and camp were all set up, the sun began to set. The golden light of evening bathed the area, turning the entire forest a brilliant gold. Everyone gathered around the blazing barbecue grill. The fragrant smoke of well-marinated grilled meat wafted through the air, along with laughter and the true beginning of a happy atmosphere…
…..
When darkness completely covered the forest, millions of stars appeared in the sky like diamond dust scattered on a pitch-black velvet cloth. Everyone sat in a circle around the warm, blazing campfire. The orange-red flames danced with the wind, crackling softly, a lullaby for the silent night.
After being satisfied with juicy, perfectly grilled sirloin barbecue and ice-cold beer, the atmosphere became completely relaxed and friendly. The empty beer cans lined up next to each person were a testament to the continuous happiness of the moment.
"...and when I turned back, the raccoon had the last of my sausages in its mouth and ran off into the bushes!" Julian finished his childhood joke, and everyone burst out laughing together. Damian's laughter echoed, while Clara giggled shyly.
Amidst the fading laughter, Owen decided this was the perfect time. He took a final sip of beer from the can, feeling the coolness slide down his throat, before slowly placing it down beside him. His playful expression and smile slowly faded, replaced by a seriousness he had never shown before.
"Everyone... I have something important to tell you."
His changed tone was like a stone thrown into a still pond. It made everyone fall silent and turn to look at him as one. The atmosphere suddenly changed. There was only the sound of the burning fire and the chirping of crickets in the darkness. Owen took a deep breath. The fragrant smell of woodsmoke helped to calm him before he announced in a clear, firm voice.
"I... have become an Awakened!"
A moment of silence fell... before Julian was the first to break it!
"For real, Owen!?" he shot to his feet, so excited he almost kicked over a beer can. His eyes were wide and sparkling like a child with a new toy. "Awesome! What rank? What kind of power? Are you a tank or a damage dealer? Do you have a system interface like in a game? Have you been in a dimensional gate yet?" The questions poured from his mouth like a machine gun.
Meanwhile, Damian looked both shocked and worried at the same time. He moved closer to Owen, placing a firm hand on his best friend's shoulder. "Owen... is this for real?" He frowned. "I just saw the news last week... an Awakened was killed by a criminal gang for their loot in a dimensional gate. Are you okay?" The concern in his voice and eyes was real and from the heart.
Clara pretended to cover her mouth in shock along with everyone else, but beneath her act, her eyes shone with an unconcealed pride. 'Finally… you finally told them… my amazing man~' A feeling of possession coursed through her.
Before anyone could ask any more questions, Owen held up a hand to stop them, then dropped a second bombshell.
"Hang on, there's one more surprise I want to tell you guys…" He gave a faint smile. "...I've paid off my one-million-dollar debt!"
This time... no one said anything...
The silence that fell was heavy and completely different from the first time. The chirping of the crickets, which had just been background noise, now seemed deafeningly annoying. The crackling of the fire was clearer every time the flames licked a log. It was true shock.
Damian and Clara were completely stunned. They looked at each other without planning to. As the ones carrying the largest debt, they knew better than anyone how hard it was to earn that much money. Over the past few months, even though they had worked hard, they hadn't even paid off half a million... But here was Owen... a young man they had thought was just an ordinary streamer, who had paid off that huge debt in a short amount of time... It was beyond imagination.
A feeling of happiness for his friend flooded Damian's mind, but it was accompanied by an unavoidable feeling of self-pity for his own fate.
Julian, who had just sat down, was too stunned to speak. He could only mumble to himself, looking at Owen as if he were a superhero…
…..
A heavy silence fell over the campfire again, but this time it wasn't a silence of happiness, but one born from true shock. Damian and Clara were still stunned by the news Owen had just announced. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with a mix of emotions too complex to describe.
Amidst the silence and shock, the familiar translucent blue screen appeared before Owen alone. Its cold digital light was a stark contrast to the warm glow of the campfire:
…..
[You are now free of debt, but the Ward family still has a large debt (9 million). What will you do?]
[1. Announce seriously that you will help them pay off the 9 million unconditionally!]: (Damian Affection +20 | Clara Affection +10 | Damian will see you as a true friend (Affection has reached 80!) | Clara will fall completely in love with you (Affection has reached 85!) | Clara will ask you for passionate sex.)
[2. Offer to pay off all their debt in exchange for Damian divorcing Clara, so Clara can be your official wife.]: (Damian Affection -20 | Clara Affection -5 | Damian's view of you will changeClara will be disappointed in youYour relationship with the Ward family will begin to crumble.)
[3. Ignore their problem and save the money for your own future.]: (Nothing happens.)
…..
Owen looked at Damian... his best friend, whose expression was a complex mix of happiness for him and misery over his own problems, his eyes clouded with sadness. Then he looked at Clara... the woman who was looking at him with eyes full of unconcealed love and hope.
He didn't have to think for a second... He chose the first option instantly.
Owen moved closer to Damian, who was still sitting as motionless as a statue. He placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder, feeling the tension under his palm, before speaking in the most firm and sincere voice, "Damian... you don't have to carry this debt and be so stressed... Seeing you unhappy like this... makes me unhappy too."
He paused for a moment, looking his friend sincerely in the eyes. The firelight reflected in Damian's eyes, revealing the deep-seated exhaustion and despair. "And besides… I've been indebted to you both for so long. For the shelter, the food, and the feeling of family I never had... It's time for me to pay you back. So… I'll help you pay off the remaining 9 million!"
That declaration was like a bolt of lightning striking the middle of the conversation!
Damian froze for a moment... as if his brain couldn't process the words. The heavy burden he and Clara had carried for months... working extra jobs until they barely slept... the small dreams they had to put away... all of it... was about to slowly disappear? It was like a dream he didn't even dare to dream.
The first teardrop fell silently from the corner of his eye... before the dam of emotions he had held back for so long broke. Tears of a man flowed uncontrollably. He threw himself into Owen's arms, hugging him so tight he trembled, burying his face in the broad shoulder of the young man who had once been just a little brother he had to take care of.
"Owen... thank you... thank God!" his voice trembled with emotion. "You... you don't know how heavy it was... I... I was about to give up... You are my little brother... the best true friend I've ever had in my life! A hundred times better than Alex!"
Clara watched the scene with a tearful smile. Her affection score shot through the roof. In her eyes now, Owen wasn't just a little brother or someone she had a crush on anymore. 'You've impressed me so much, Owen… my love~ You are a real man!' she thought.
'Not just power... not just money... but your leadership… your unique charm is what makes me feel like I'm in love~' In Clara's heart now, he was the "lover" she was ready to marry. He was the "leader" and he was her "everything." She was completely in love with him, body and soul.
"Yay!" Julian jumped and danced with joy. He could feel the atmosphere had completely changed. "I love this atmosphere so much! Our warm home is finally going back to the way it was!"
The atmosphere instantly turned into a huge celebration. Everyone laughed and cried with joy. Damian ran to the car to get a bottle of champagne he had prepared for a special occasion, before popping it open to celebrate the "new pillar of the house."
Pop!
The sound of the cork was followed by white foam gushing from the bottle. It was the sound of true release.
Owen sat down by the still-blazing campfire. Clara didn't hesitate to move in close and lean her head on his shoulder, openly and naturally, as if it were the most right thing in the world. Damian, who had wiped away his tears, returned with glasses of champagne. He handed a glass to Owen first, before raising his own high with a face full of a happiness he had never known before. "To Owen... my little brother!"
While Julian looked at him with eyes full of the utmost respect...
Now, Owen's status in this house... in everyone's hearts... had changed forever.
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