34 Great Gifts

[Rain Holmes: Sorry, I can't come tonight to the birthday party. Please don't waste your time to find me. After some time I will answer your questions, but for now, don't try to find me.]

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Charles (His father),

Carla (His mother),

Mark (His butler),

Kaya (His sister),

Emma (His fiancée).

Upon seeing this massage, everyone's reaction was different.

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"You bastard! Son of a bitch!" Charles shouted, his face contorted with anger and his voice raised in a rage.

But his wife interrupted him, her eyes narrowing and her body tense with fury. "Darling... who are you calling a bitch?" Her voice was cold and cutting, her tone sharp with disapproval.

Carla's voice was innocent, but her words cut deep, and Charles felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.

He was suddenly acutely aware of the weight of her disapproval, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of fear creeping over him.

"Rain told us not to look for him, but where on earth could he be?" Charles fretted, his mind racing with worry. His voice was strained, and he sounded almost desperate. Inwardly he was little happy to hear that Rain was safe. 

Just a moment ago, he got new from combat team that escorted Rain today. [Young Master had been last spotted in E-Class dungeon, Goblin's Nest.]

He was worried if something bed had happened. But now, hearing this, he was relieved. 

Unaware of Charles' thoughts, Carla shared his concern. "I just hope he's okay and comes back soon," she said, her eyes fixed on Charles.

Her voice was firm but gentle, and there was a note of tenderness in her tone. "And don't you dare scold him when he returns, understood?" Her gaze was unwavering, and there was a hint of warning in her words.

Charles nodded, shuddering under her gaze. He felt small and helpless, but he knew that he had to comply with her wishes. "Y-yes," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

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"Oh... So he's not coming today. I wonder where he could be," remarked Emma, her tone tinged with disappointment because she couldn't break off the engagement. 

'Still, it doesn't matter right now. I'll just enjoy the party and leave early.'

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Kaya's mind raced with questions. "Hmm, so he's not coming?" she asked herself, her tone filled with uncertainty.

"Why isn't he coming?" she wondered aloud, her puzzlement growing.

Where could he be?

And why did he specifically ask not to be found?

Could he still be injured?

Or did his injury not fully heal?

"This all seems strange," Kaya thought to herself, her curiosity piqued.

'But regardless, why bother with the truth? Let's just spread some rumors.'

Soon, the rumors started to spread like wildfire...

─ Rain hurt himself during training.

─ Rain is scared to come to the party.

─ Rain is not at home.

─ Rain looks down on others. 

And many more rumours. 

If Rain was here, he would think, "Who the hell came up with this dumb shit?"

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Mark let out a sigh, "The young master would be so lonely alone." He didn't know where Rain was. Still, he thought, 'There might be some reason for this. Let's wait.'

Although Mark's guess that Rain was alone was correct. However, Rain was alone for different purposes, which Mark was not aware of. 

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In the Party Hall, anticipation hung in the air as the guests eagerly waited for Rain's arrival to kickstart the birthday party. 

As time went on, the party began to run late, causing some guests to become agitated and frustrated. "I don't understand why we're waiting so long. It's not like Rain to be this late," muttered one guest.

Others, however, tried to make the most of the delay, indulging in the scrumptious food and drinks on the tables. "This cake is amazing! Who made it?" remarked a guest, taking another bite.

As the wait stretched on, whispers began to circulate, and some guests wondered if something was amiss.

Suddenly, Charles appeared at the entrance, drawing everyone's attention.

Charles cleared his throat, and the room fell silent.

"Unfortunately, Rain won't be able to make it tonight," he announced, his voice heavy with regret. Disappointment filled the room, and guests began to murmur their well-wishes for Rain's speedy recovery as they slowly started to leave.

"I hope Rain feels better soon, but I was really looking forward to dancing!" exclaimed a girl, who was standing beside Emma. 

'He doesn't know to dance. He only knows sword dance.' Kaya and Emma thought at the same time.

Rain's absence cast a shadow over the party, as guests speculated about the cause of his sudden illness.

Some whispered that he had pushed himself too hard during training, while others spread negative rumors about his personal life.

Despite the disappointment, the party continued, and guests exchanged gifts and blessings for Rain.

Charles graciously accepted the presents on Rain's behalf, thanking everyone for their kindness.

As the night wore on, the party slowly wound down, and the staff of the Holmes Family began to clean up the drawing hall.

The decorations were carefully taken down, and tables wiped clean, as the guests began to depart.

Although the party didn't go exactly as planned, many of the guests still managed to have a good time and celebrate Rain's birthday.

The festive decorations, the lively chatter, and the delicious food all contributed to a sense of joy and community.

As the last of the guests departed, only a handful remained in the mansion.

Emma, a reluctant guest who was forced to stay by her parents, watched as the party slowly faded into memory.

As the night wore on, Rain still hadn't returned.

Charles and Carla decided to search for him through their secret network the next day, but Carla couldn't shake her worry.

She paced back and forth in the dimly lit hallway, biting her lip.

Why hadn't Rain come back yet? What could have happened to him?

Despite her concerns, she eventually retired to her room, hoping Rain would return soon.

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In the early hours of the morning, around 5 am, the phones of five individuals - Charles, Carla, Emma, Kaya, and Mark - all rang simultaneously, jolting them awake.

They checked their phones groggily, only to see a message from Rain on the screen.

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[Rain Holmes: Good morning, I left a gift for you in my room. Collect it from Mark.]

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At first, they were disoriented and wondered if it was a dream. But as they rubbed the sleep from their eyes, they realized it was a genuine message from Rain.

Curiosity piqued, they made their way to Rain's room, their minds racing with questions. What was the return gift? Had Rain come back? Why didn't he show up at the party? Where was he? What was he doing?

As they approached the door, they knew that only Rain could answer their questions now.

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[Unknown Deserted Island] 

Rain lay on his back, his body engulfed by a fluffy comforter that felt like a warm hug. His head was resting on a soft pillow, his eyes closed in deep slumber.

A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth, as if he was experiencing something pleasant in his dreams.

"…so…comfy…" a murmur escaped from Rain's lips as he snuggled deeper into the cozy cocoon of his bed.

And so he slept on, lost in the peaceful oblivion of his dreams, unaware of the chaos he had caused.