Chapter 113. Part 2 Episode 15

After that day, everything seemed to change.

Zaylien loved his Papa and Dad even more, and he cherished them with a heart full of gratitude. He woke up every morning with a new kind of energy, as though the weight that had once followed him had fallen away. His parents had told him the truth and that gave him confidence.

On Monday morning, he walked into school with a smile. His backpack bounced lightly on his shoulder, students noticed the change in him. Some stared, wondering why he looked brighter than usual. Others whispered, curious about what had caused this sudden glow.

As Zaylien made his way toward his classroom, someone stepped in front of him. Derek. Zaylien tried to sidestep, choosing not to give Derek his energy, but Derek moved quickly and blocked him again.

“What do you want?” Zaylien asked flatly, his smile fading but not his courage.

Derek folded his arms and smirked. “I just wanted to see how a boy without a mother is faring.”