The Incubus System

Chapter 696: You Have Me...

The Incubus System Chapter 686. You Have Me...

Desperately, I racked my brain for something, anything, that could cheer her up. Then, out of nowhere, an idea sparked. "Come on, Celia. Let's do something fun," I said, trying to sound upbeat. "We could hit the mall, grab you a new outfit, or maybe take a walk in the park. Just name it—whatever you want."

I saw a flicker of interest flash across her face, just for a second, before her expression fell again. I knew she was still upset, thanks to Mrs. Clea saying all that stuff right in front of her. I couldn't completely blame Mrs. Clea; maybe she thought Celia already knew everything.

Before she could respond, I grinned, throwing in a bit of mischief. "Oh, by the way, I ran into Tiffany earlier. She's down for a theme park day with us. Just say when," I reminded her, hoping to spark something in her.

To my relief, a small smile finally broke through, soft but genuine, like a little flower pushing up through cracks in the pavement. She looked at me, eyes shining just a bit brighter. "How about the day after tomorrow?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement she was trying to hold back.

"Sounds good," I nodded, relieved to see her spirits lifting, even if just a little.

As if she could feel my mood, Foxy leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her tails swaying back and forth like a fluffy metronome.

"Can I come too, Master?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

I looked at her and couldn't help but smile. "Of course, Foxy," I said, giving her a gentle pat on the head.

But then a chorus of disappointed voices rose around me, and I turned to see Buni and the rest of the gang looking up at me with hopeful eyes.

"What about us?" they chimed in, voices filled with curiosity and a hint of longing. "Can we come too?"

"Sorry, guys," I said, feeling a bit guilty. "I don't think the theme park is going to let me bring this many pets."

Immediately, Red let out a loud whine, and the others joined in, their voices blending into a little symphony of disappointment. But Foxy stepped forward, her eyes warm and reassuring, and she quickly calmed them down for me. She knew I wasn't in the best place emotionally and was always there to help me manage.

Just then, Celia's soft voice pulled my attention back. "Brother…" She looked up at me, her expression serious and sad.

"Yeah?" I asked, my eyes meeting her gloomy gaze.

"How's mom?" she asked, a heavy sadness lingering in her tone.

"She's fine," I replied, forcing a small, dry smile. "Better than I thought she'd be."

Celia's eyes searched mine, trying to find some hidden truth behind my words. "Does she… regret it?" she asked, a small flicker of hope mingled with her sadness.

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. I didn't want to crush her with the truth, but I also didn't want to give her false hope. "She said she was sorry," I finally replied, carefully choosing my words. "But honestly… that was just a lie. She just wanted to avoid the punishment and move on with her life. She doesn't regret a thing or think about us."

The bitterness hit me the moment I said it, anger bubbling up inside me. It wasn't fair—she'd left us, abandoned us like we didn't matter, and now she wanted to live as if nothing had happened.

Celia's response was simple, a quiet, "I see," spoken in a tone that matched the dark clouds rolling overhead. A heavy silence fell between us.

I moved closer to her, reaching out to take her hand in mine. Our fingers intertwined, and I felt the warmth of her skin, grounding me. I looked into her eyes, seeing all the pain and sorrow etched there. It was heartbreaking, and I wished more than anything to take it away.

"Hey," I said softly, my voice gentle. "Let's forget about her, okay? We're fine. We don't need her. We don't need anyone who's betrayed us—betrayed Dad," I said, my voice growing steadier as I spoke.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she listened, a faint sign that she understood. Deep down, she knew I was right. We couldn't let our mother's actions dictate our lives or define who we were.

"And besides, you've got me," I reminded her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "No matter how much I change, I'm still your brother. I'm still your Ethan." I wanted her to feel that reassurance, to know that I'd always be there for her.

She gave a dry smile and nodded. "I know," she whispered, so quietly I barely heard her. Then, she pulled her hand away.

"But still… a part of me wishes we could go back to the way things used to be," she admitted, her voice soft and wistful. "But I guess that's just wishful thinking." She looked away, closing her eyes for a moment, like she was fighting back tears. "It was just… something I hoped for."

Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a hug. I felt her tense up for a moment before she relaxed, melting into the embrace. I held her tightly, feeling her sorrow against me. Her hair brushed my face, tickling my nose, but I didn't care. I gently rubbed her head, hoping to give her a little comfort.

In that moment, I closed my eyes. All that mattered was this—me holding her, letting her know she wasn't alone.

I could feel her warmth seep into me, grounding me, and I hoped that somehow, I was doing the same for her. "It's okay, Celia. Everything's going to be okay," I whispered, my voice barely a breath against her ear.

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