
"How? It shouldn't have gotten this far yet."
Hayden, what the hell do you mean by 'yet'? Does he know something?
"You've gotten stronger."
Brett, have you forgotten that you literally told the man to exercise because he didn't have enough stamina the first time you guys had sex? Kidding, I'm sure he hasn't forgotten, but he certainly didn't expect to feel like he is about to die.
Also, what if the bond happened at the first time they did it? I remember seeing Hayden bite Brett's neck when he was in a rut. Like, that was the bullet to the gun, Hayden just needed to pull the trigger, and that trigger was at the party by "old, dull, rich men." Just a guess though.

The moment I saw her tears, I physically felt my heart fall into what seemed infinitely dark. Richard's embrace was like warm big fluffy blanket in a cold knight as you hear the trees rustle and the crickets say good night while the big round moon shines through the window sill.
Courtney desperately needed that hug, and you can tell that it wasn't often given by her family, excluding the nephew, as she happily walks across the marks, then jumps on the circle like a kid that got to play outside after being encaged inside their room for far too long.
I understand why she forgave her family, and a few happy moments that might have happened in the past, based off on how her mother defended her daughter despite being in low status, is enough the charred what is necessary.
But...
Courtney needs to teach her family, excluding the nephew, to face reality, to have a single sense of responsibility, to have shame and pride. Previously, I thought of them learning it on the streets, forging a new name for her family without them, but there are many ways to teach such adults. I hope she finds it.
I hope Tsubaki-san learns to take it a much mature age, and for Yuu-san to understand that he should talk to him about such notions.
Oh but their interaction is soothing my heart