How Things Changed Forever.. PART - II

CH 67: A Game of Monopoly Cut Short

It was nearly six in the evening when Kai woke up the next day. His head felt clearer than it had in days, his limbs lighter. It had been ages since he'd slept this deeply.

But the good mood didn't mean that the betrayal wasn't lost on him, despite how well-meaning Jason's intentions had been. It was a good thing Jason wasn't home—Kai didn't want to see his face and spoil his mood just yet.

A peek into the spare bedroom showed Jason had made himself right at home. Clothes spread out, laptop placed neatly on the study table. A look around the kitchen showed he'd cooked himself a nice breakfast and even saved some for Kai. Like hell he'd ease him out of his guilt by eating his food.

On the counter, though, sat a folded scrap of paper. Jason's handwriting, sharp and casual.

"Don't break anything while I'm gone. PS: You're welcome for the sleep."

Kai crumpled it in his fist, jaw tight. Jason had been right—annoyingly so. Kai had no strong connections to officials, not much weight in legal circles. His expertise lay more in threats whispered in alleyways and deals struck under the table. Admitting it alone tasted like ash in his mouth.

The images still flickered unbidden in his mind—Hillary's muffled cries, Laura's amused laughter. The way his heart had dropped when he realized Hillary wasn't breathing anymore. Those agonizing minutes while Laura performed CPR and Hillary still didn't respond still sent shivers down his spine.

But today, after the first real sleep he'd had in a long time, the memories hit differently. It didn't mean that the anger had vanished—if anything, it simmered sharper now, cleaner. What Laura had done to Hillary was carved into his mind. He just wasn't breaking under it anymore.

He slumped back into the couch, remembering Jason's face as he he fell asleep yesterday—the calm, practiced guilt in his eyes. Kai had trusted him enough to share what happened in that alley, how he'd found Hillary half-dead, how Dev had pieced together that it was no ordinary mugging.

And Jason had repaid that trust with a drugged glass of milk.

Kai exhaled sharply and pushed to his feet again. He had to get out of his house, needed something else to worry about. He'd go mad otherwise.

*****

Tyson had been having a great weekend so far. After having a good day with Max yesterday, the entire gang had decided to join him today at the dojo. Even Mariah had decided to tag along with them for some fun.

After laying about and watching comedy shows throughout the day, Mariah convinced them to all play monopoly during the evening.

Tyson had only agreed to this because he thought a casual game would be relaxing. Now, three hours later, he was knee-deep in colorful plastic houses and constant rent payments.

Max had already mortgaged half his properties in a desperate gamble. He was now muttering curses under his breath as Mariah ruthlessly collected rent from his hotels.

"I didn't know Mariah had this much of a mean streak," Tyson muttered under his breath, glaring at the gleaming hotels lining her properties.

Max leaned over, whispering with a wry grin, "People weren't wrong when they said money brings out a person's true colours."

Mariah's head shot up, eyes narrowing. "Hey! Everything is fair in Monopoly!" she declared. "If you land in a place, you pay. That's the rule!"

Tyson groaned. Across from him, Kenny chuckled quietly, stacking his cash. He was clearly the richest amongst them all now, and was now moving around the board just for fun.