Rafe knew something was wrong the moment lunch ended.
Caretakers never walked with purpose in this place…yet one of them — the thin, rat-faced woman who always glared at him — was pacing the hallway with a nervous smile glued to her face.
She kept glancing at Rafe.Not subtly.Not casually.
Like she had already made up her mind about something.
Mara noticed it too.
She moved closer, her eyes narrowing.
"Someone is looking at you," she whispered.
"I know."
"You don't look worried."
"I am. I'm just good at hiding it."
Mara frowned, unhappy with the answer.
The woman finally approached, steps quick and too cheerful to be real.
"There you are, Hendrix," she said. "Come with me a moment."
Rafe kept his expression blank.
"For what?"
"It's important. Private."
Mara immediately stepped in front of him.
"No."
The woman's smile twitched.
"This doesn't concern you."
"It does," Mara said, calm but firm. "You're lying."
Rafe gently touched Mara's shoulder.
"It's okay. I'll go."
Her eyes widened, sharp with warning.
"Rafe—"
He gave her a small, controlled nod.
"It's fine. I'll be careful."
Reluctantly, Mara let him go — but she didn't step far.She followed behind at a distance, pretending not to.
The caretaker led Rafe into an empty storage room — a different one from before.
The door closed.
This time, Rafe didn't feel fear.He felt anticipation.
The woman clasped her hands together.
"You're… a smart boy, Rafe. Very… promising."
Rafe stared at her without blinking.
"And?"
She bit her lip, then forced the smile wider.
"I heard the Hales liked you. I also heard they weren't sure yet."Her voice lowered."I can help you."
Rafe raised one eyebrow.
"Help me with what?"
"Getting adopted."
He said nothing.
She continued, voice urgent:
"I can convince them to return. To reconsider. You'd get out of here. The city is better than this place. And they pay well for… arrangements."
There it was.
The truth slipped between her words.
She wasn't helping him.
She was trying to sell him.
Rafe tilted his head slightly.
"And what do you get?"
Her eyes flickered.
"I— I get a small fee. Nothing you need to worry about."
"A fee," Rafe repeated softly.
She moved closer.
"Think about it. You'd have money, a home, food, clothes—"
Rafe cut her off.
"Why me?"
She hesitated.
"You're… different."
He kept staring.
"You don't cry. You don't beg. You don't act like the others."Her voice dropped further."And children like that… are valuable."
Rafe felt the cold truth settle.
She didn't want to save him.She wanted to profit from him.
He took one slow breath.
"Is that all?"
She blinked. "W-What?"
"Is that the whole offer?"
"Well… yes."
Rafe stepped forward, looking straight into her eyes.
"Then here's my answer."
He kept his voice low, steady, adult.
"No."
The woman flinched.
"But—"
"I'll stay here until I decide otherwise. Not you. Not them."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You're making a mistake, boy."
"No," Rafe said quietly. "I'm preventing one."
She stepped toward him, anger replacing the fake smile.
"You don't understand how this world works—"
Rafe calmly raised his voice.
"Mara."
The door opened instantly.
Mara stood there, eyes like cold steel.
The woman froze.
"…You brought her?"
"No," Rafe answered. "She followed on her own."
Mara stepped into the room, positioning herself between Rafe and the caretaker without hesitation.
"What did she tell you?" Mara asked.
Rafe shrugged. "That she wants to sell me."
The woman paled.
"I— That's— You—!"
Mara didn't raise her voice.She didn't threaten.She just stared.
And the caretaker stepped back.
Two steps.Three.
"I didn't mean— I wasn't— He misunderstood—"
"Leave," Mara said quietly.
The woman didn't argue.She ran.
When the door shut, Mara finally turned to Rafe.
"You shouldn't have gone."
"I knew you'd follow."
"That's not the point."
Rafe tilted his head.
"You're mad?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you—" She stopped, struggling for words. "Because you act like nothing can hurt you. But it can."
Rafe blinked.
That… was new.
He opened his mouth to answer, but the System pulsed inside him.
DING.New System Notice:Mara's emotional awareness increased.Bond approaching next stage.A choice will soon be required.
Rafe exhaled.
The world was moving faster than expected.
Mara crossed her arms again, trying to look composed.
"You're staying close to me from now on."
Rafe smirked.
"Is that an order?"
"Yes."
He laughed softly.
"You're very bossy."
"You need someone to stop you from doing stupid things."
"Well," Rafe said, "I can't argue with that."
They returned to the main hallway together.
But now something had changed.
Mara stayed closer.Rafe let her.
And for the first time since he woke up in this world…
he realized he cared whether someone stayed by his side.