That little boy's face….!!!

"August, we're down to just seventeen hundred and fifty dollars. That's it."

Celine could see the tension in his jaw when she said that.

August ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "That's not going to last us a week, Celine. Not with rent coming up, and groceries... and Reed." His voice trailed off as his gaze shifted to their son.

Reed was carefully opening the back of his toy truck, his tiny fingers working.

He placed a piece of candy inside, a little stash he had been hoarding and then closed the truck again before pushing it along with a soft squeak.

Celine leaned forward, elbows on her knees. "They won't pay me until next month, August. And even then, it's not much. The sales lady's job barely covers anything."

August let out a frustrated sigh, "I know, I know. I went to Ric Pierre, tried to sell him those photos he said were so good. His secretary didn't even let me get through the door. Just told me they weren't interested."

He chuckled bitterly. "He praised those photos to high heaven last time, and now they act like they're worthless. That was my third rejection in two weeks, Celine."

He looked over at his son and let out a low groan. There's a kid in the house. One who needs food!!! "What's left in the house? There's got to be something we can scrape together."

"Just the broccoli... There's a lot of it in the back of the fridge. I got it two weeks ago when my boss gave me too much as a bonus. I thought it would last us, but it's not enough."

August frowned. "Reed doesn't even eat broccoli. They're like monsters to him. He won't eat it, you know that."

His eyes were already tired of this endless struggle they seemed to be trapped in.

His gaze drifted back to Reed, who was now carefully hiding another piece of candy in his truck with a quiet giggle escaping his lips.

August couldn't help but smile at the sight, a brief flicker of warmth in an otherwise bleak moment. "He's something else, isn't he? Hiding candies everywhere... I bet he has a stash in every corner of this place."

Celine's smile was weak, but genuine. "Yeah, he's always up to something. Our little mischief-maker. He must resemble his sperm donor with such mischief."

Celine finally stood up, the decision made. "I'm going to the shopping mall. Maybe I can sell the broccoli, get a few dollars for it. We need to eat tonight."

August watched her, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. "I'll come with you. Maybe I can find something too... anything."

As they made their way to the door, Reed's quiet voice called out, "Mama, Daddy, wait." He was holding up a piece of candy, offering it to them with a proud smile.

August crouched down, taking the candy from Reed with a gentle smile. "Thanks, buddy. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Reed beamed, his eyes bright with innocence as he watched them leave.

Now, he was all alone—sitting on the floor, humming softly to himself as he played with his toy truck.

The door creaked shut behind him when they left, but it didn't quite click all the way.

Reed's eyes darted to the door, noticing it wasn't locked like it always was. His little eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Daddy always locks the door... Daddy keeps Reed safe.."

"Daddy always locks the door... Daddy keeps Reed safe, Daddy always locks the door... Daddy keeps Reed safe" he muttered to himself, repeating it as if it was a mantra.

He got up slowly, leaving his truck behind, and padded over to the door on bare feet. The handle turned easily under his small hand, and the door swung open.

"Little Reed's not safe," he whispered again, almost like he was convincing himself. "Daddy always locks the door."

But the allure of the unknown was too strong. With a hesitant glance back at his toy, he stepped out the door.

As Reed pushed open the building's main front door, the outside world seemed to open up in front of him. It was vast and unfamiliar. Everything was so big and so loud.

He took a tentative step onto the sidewalk, his eyes wide as he took in the world around him. He wandered down the street while his eyes darted around, absorbing every detail.

He turned a corner, and that's when he saw it—a shiny, black car, sleek and polished, just like his toy truck back home. Reed's breath caught in his throat as he stared at it… not scared by it rather, mesmerized.

Without a second thought, he stepped off the curb and onto the road, his small naked feet moving toward the car with a sense of purpose. "Daddy… Little Reed's car, Daddy, Little Reed's car."

*

Inside the car, the driver's eyes widened in shock as he saw the tiny figure step onto the road. His foot slammed down on the brake, and the car screeched to a halt.

In the backseat, Mr. King, who had been lounging with his head back, felt his body lurch forward violently. The abrupt stop jerked him from his relaxed state, and he sat up with a start, his head whipping forward.

"What in the hell—?" Mr. King's voice was low with irritation. He glared at the driver. "What are you doing, stopping like that?"

The driver stammered, "Sir, there's a child... a child just walked in front of the car."

Mr. King's face darkened. "A child?" He hissed with disdain. "So what? Knock it off the road, then. We don't have time for this nonsense."

His words were cold, sharp and cutting.

The driver's heart pounded.

Knock him off the road?! Why? To get the master home! Not like the master's doing any reason at home other than being alone!

He couldn't do it—couldn't just run the kid down. Instead, he pressed the horn twice.

But Reed didn't flinch.

He stood there, blinking up at the towering car.

The honk didn't register as a threat to Reed. Maybe it was just another sound in this new, strange world he was exploring. His eyes were fixed on the car that really looked like his toy.

He stepped closer, his little hand reaching out to touch the massive tire in front of him. The rubber was cool under his fingers, and he pressed his palm against it, fascinated no doubt.

To Reed, the car wasn't a danger. "Reed's Big trucky! Daddy, come see Reed's big trucky."

Inside the car, Mr. King watched the boy's actions with barely concealed contempt. The child's innocence, his curiosity—it was… daring!

He clicked his tongue. It was also irritating and he was impatient.

Good thing he couldn't see that child's face, it would have irritated him the more, tsk!

"Get out and move him," Mr. King snapped at the driver. "We don't have all day."

The driver swallowed hard, his throat dry, and unbuckled his seatbelt with shaky hands. He stepped out of the car and walked over to where Reed was standing.

"Hey, little boy," the driver said gently. "It's not safe here. You need to move off the road."

Reed looked up at the man, his eyes wide and questioning.

"Ahh?" The driver gasped, shocked when he saw Reed's face. "This..." he quickly swallowed his stupid assumptions when he remembered the demon king still in the car who hated delay.

He carefully took Reed's hand, guiding him away from the car and back onto the sidewalk. Reed followed, his gaze still locked on the car, twisting his head back.

As the driver helped Reed onto the sidewalk, Mr. King remained inside the car, his eyes shut tightly now. "Tch! Who let its puppy out of its leach and milky cage!"

(A/N: Did you just call August's son a puppy dog?!! "..." )

Once Reed was safely on the sidewalk, the driver hurried back to the car, his hands still trembling slightly. He couldn't tell what his eyes just saw today, never! That little boy's face….!!!

He closed the door and settled back into his seat.

"It's done, sir," he muttered.

Mr. King didn't bother to respond.