Chapter 17

• Daniel nodded slowly. “But I’ve never felt freer than I do right now.”
• Ayu looked at him for a long time, then rested her head on Daniel’s shoulder. “From now on, if you ever feel like you’ve lost your family because you’re protecting my family’s heritage—honestly, you haven’t lost a family … you’ve simply moved to one that knows how to protect what matters.”
• Ayu’s voice was calm but deep, like a prayer whispered with a heart full of conviction.