Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 128

“Should we just let him go?”

His secretary, standing a few steps away, asked. If Dominique had ordered it, she would have chased after Ashley immediately, but no such command was given. Instead, he brought the cigar he was smoking to his lips, inhaled deeply, and slowly exhaled the smoke.

The secretary silently watched the smoke cut through the air in a straight line before floating into the void.

“Miss Bernice, shall we make a bet?”

Dominique said, his gaze still fixed on the window.

“How long until my son returns?”

“…Do you think Junior will return?”

When the secretary asked after a pause, Dominique gave a chilling laugh. He had given him everything before he was even born. What he needed, what he wanted. So much that he wouldn’t even realize what lack was. How long could he last running away with a penniless, empty-handed boy?

“He’ll have no choice but to return.”

He seemed to guarantee his victory. The secretary stood there with her usual expressionless face, saying nothing.

Gasp, gasp, gasp.

Koi arrived home, breathless. He had pedaled so frantically that he felt nauseous. He suppressed the rising urge to vomit, roughly parked his bicycle, and went inside.

As had been the case for the past few days, a quiet interior greeted him. Koi quickly checked the time and swallowed dryly, panting.

It’s okay, I can make it in time.

It took about an hour to get to the train station by car. It would take at least twice that long by bicycle, but he was prepared to take an Uber if necessary. It was fine; he saved money for times like this.

Koi hastily threw down his bag and lifted the bed mattress. He had taped the money he had saved in stacks of a few bills to the other side of the mattress. If he had known he would need it so urgently, he would have just tied it with rubber bands and hidden it somewhere in the house.

Of course, he had used this cumbersome method because there was no suitable place.

Koi moved his hands frantically, yet carefully, as he undertook the delicate task of ensuring the bills didn’t tear.

By the time he finally managed to peel off the last bill, an Uber was his only option.

It’s okay, it’s okay.

He reassured himself, quickly emptying his bag and stuffing the bills inside. Suddenly, he remembered the clothes Ashley had bought him.

Thinking that he hadn’t worn them much because he was saving them, he wanted to take them out and pack them immediately, but he didn’t have the time. Koi quickly packed a few essential items, slung the bag over his shoulder, and immediately turned around.

Just as he was thinking of calling a taxi on the way, the door suddenly opened.

Creak…

An ominous sound echoed in the dimly lit interior, illuminated only by a flickering light.

Koi, who had just turned around, froze in surprise. Even thieves wouldn’t bother with such a shabby motorhome. Only two people would come here.

Koi himself, and one other.

“…Koi.”

Koi stared blankly at his father, who was looking at him with a pale face.

Ashley was already speeding down the road, having changed lanes several times. He cut in front of another car again and glanced at the clock inside. The time he had told Koi was approaching.

At this rate, he might even arrive earlier than planned. He checked the side mirror again, but there was no ominous movement that suggested someone was chasing him.

The fact that I even had a mobile phone was strange.

He knew. That it was bait, a trap. But he couldn’t miss this opportunity. There was no worse situation than sitting there idly, being dragged to the East, and being separated from Koi forever.

He had been driving at maximum speed, fearing that his father’s employees might chase him as soon as he left the mansion, but now he felt somewhat relieved on that front. Ashley thought Dominique wouldn’t immediately pursue him, but he still didn’t slow down. He wanted to get away from that man as quickly and as far as possible. And that much closer to Koi.

Koi.

Just thinking of him warmed his heart and brought a sense of relief. A smile inadvertently formed on his lips as he imagined Koi running towards him.

They would take the train together and leave this place. They would go to another province and start anew. It’s okay, he could do anything. He would get a small room and live with Koi.

It didn’t matter how poor or lacking they were. Because Koi, his everything, would be with him.

Believing that, Ashley changed lanes again and sped off.

“Koi.”

His father called his name again. Koi remained frozen, unable to move. The last sight of his father had frozen Koi. The thought that he might hit him again made his trembling eyes dart back and forth between his father’s hands and his belt.

“Koi.”

His father called him once more and coughed. His father’s face, illuminated by the dim interior light, was unusually pale. Just as he thought it was like a blank sheet of paper, his father stepped inside. Startled by the movement, Koi unconsciously stepped back. His father stumbled forward, then spoke with difficulty.

“Are you, are you okay? I’m sorry… I, back then… I must have lost myself for a moment.”

His father, who had spoken with difficulty, coughed again. Just as Koi thought his breathing was unusually rough, he suddenly realized. His father was somehow different than usual.

He wheezed, slowly approaching him one step at a time. Even so, he only took one or two steps, stopped, and then took one or two more, but each time Koi retreated, he eventually had nowhere left to go.

His back hit the wall, cornering him, and he clutched the strap of his bag, sweating coldly. His father noticed it after taking another couple of steps closer.

“…Koi, what’s that? Class should be over, shouldn’t it?”

He asked, noticing something unusual. Koi was momentarily flustered and speechless.

“T-to… to study at a friend’s house.”

He stammered out a lie, but his father didn’t seem to believe him. Of course. Koi wouldn’t have believed it either if the roles were reversed.

“Koi.”

His father’s face grew even paler. His thin hand reached out towards Koi, and seeing it, Koi gasped and hunched his shoulders. His father’s eyes wavered at the sight of his frightened son.

“Surely, you’re not trying to leave here, are you…?”

The train station began to appear in the distance. Ashley’s face gradually brightened. Finally, finally.

Finally, I’m leaving this place.

Just the thought of escaping that man made his chest swell as if it would burst. Ashley, unable to contain his excitement, sped up even more. The moment he changed lanes again, a huge truck suddenly loomed in front of him.

Koi remained pressed against the wall, speechless. His father was approaching, and he had nowhere to go.

Ash is waiting. I need to get out of here quickly.

His mind was racing, but his body remained frozen. Koi just watched his approaching father, trembling all over.

“Koi.”

His father called him again. This time, his voice was trembling too.

“Surely, no… right? It’s not like that, is it? You too… you’re not trying to leave me, like your mother, are you?”

His father’s words came out in broken fragments. He stammered, his face pale, as if he couldn’t believe this was happening. As if he had never imagined such a thing.

But Koi’s mind was already made up.

“I’m going.”

He forced out the words, his voice constantly fading.

“I’m… leaving here. Please, let me go.”

His father blocked the way, leaving Koi no other option to leave. Other than to plead with him. Suddenly, his father’s eyes flashed, and then his hand flew out.

“Hiiik…!”

Koi gasped in terror, screaming and squeezing his eyes shut. He was curled up and frightened, but the situation that followed was different from his expectation.

“Koi…”

Suddenly, his father grabbed both of his arms. Koi gasped and shivered at the sudden contact, but his father continued urgently.

“I, I was wrong… Please don’t leave me.”

The surroundings were silent. Only his father’s rough breathing faintly struck his ears. At the unexpected words, Koi felt a sense of unreality.

He had simply tensed his body and squeezed his eyes shut, and only after a moment did he finally understand his father’s words.

…Huh?

Belatedly, Koi slowly opened his eyes. His hesitant gaze moved sideways. His father was still standing there, looking at him. The dim light flickered behind Koi, faintly illuminating his father’s face.

His father was looking down at him, his pale face contorted as if about to cry.