Chapter 65

"Look, Ryan. When did I ever need someone to cover up for me? Do I look that weak to you?"

He sighs, "You know that's not what I meant, isn't it natural for us to be worried? We're your only family."

"Family? Stop joking. We're not even blood-related."

"So what?" He says in a serious tone, "You're like a sister to me, whether you don't want to be. It's just how I see you. That also applies to Alpha Shaka. I'm sure he treats you like his own daughter."

I averted his gaze, "I don't know. I've long forgotten how 'family' exactly works."

The days when I lived with my parents were a blurry memory. All I could remember was the nightmare when mom died. The eyes of despair and her loving smile that she displayed when she took her last breath.

At that time, I was just a child. Young Venus wasn't prepared to lose the meaning of 'family.'

"How have you been doing?" Ryan asks, and I turn to look at him.

"You mean the mission?"