Sleeping With My Step Daddy
Chapter 76: "Kai’s Changing"

Chapter 76: "Kai’s Changing"

Two weeks had passed... and Kai’s fever still hadn’t gone down.

Ever since that night, he hadn’t opened his eyes once.

Sebastian Vaughn had quietly transferred all his shares to Kai’s name... and left Japan without a word—for Kai’s happiness.

But Kai hadn’t moved from his hospital bed.

Inside the hospital room, Reiji sat quietly by Kai’s side, eyes locked on his cousin’s pale face. Eden sat beside him, offering silent support.

Reiji (voice trembling): "I’m really worried about Kai..."

Eden (gently): "Don’t worry. He’ll be okay soon."

A nurse came in to change the IV drip and gently injected another dose of medicine into Kai’s arm.

Reiji watched the motionless boy, his chest aching.

Reiji (softly, tearfully): "Why isn’t he waking up...? It’s been two weeks. He’s just been lying there like this."

Eden reached over and gently wiped Reiji’s tears away.

Eden (whispering): "Don’t cry... He’ll get better soon."

Meanwhile, in the doctor’s office, Takeshi sat across from the physician, his expression dark and tight with worry.

Doctor: "Mr. Takeshi, all his reports are normal. His vitals are stable, but the fever still won’t go down."

Takeshi (furiously): "I don’t care what the reports say—I want my son back to how he was before. Healthy."

Doctor (calmly): "We’re doing everything we can. But this isn’t a typical illness. His body isn’t responding to treatment. It’s likely psychological—extreme stress or emotional trauma."

Takeshi (confused): "What kind of stress?"

Doctor: "In cases like this, patients sometimes shut down when they lose someone very close to them. It’s like their mind can’t process the shock... and their body reacts."

Takeshi’s eyes widened slightly.

And in his head... one name echoed louder than anything else.

Sebastian Vaughn.

After a whole month in the hospital, Kai finally returned home.

The entire family was overjoyed to see him walking and talking again—especially Takeshi, whose eyes welled with relief just watching his son take steps on his own.

Kai looked the same... but he wasn’t the same anymore.

The warm smiles that used to light up his face were gone.

Piece by piece, day by day, he buried himself in business and studies, leaving behind the person he used to be. Quietly, he moved out of the mansion, telling his father he preferred to live alone.

Takeshi didn’t stop him. He respected Kai’s decision—though his heart ached every day because of it.

It had been three months since Kai and Bast broke up.

Kai rarely came home anymore. He barely spoke to anyone. Not even Takeshi.

He studied. He worked. He kept his heart closed and his calendar full.

And though he looked like he was doing fine...

Everyone around him could see—Kai had never really come back.

Reiji walked into Kai’s office, knocking once before stepping inside.

Kai didn’t even glance up, eyes focused on the stack of documents spread before him.

Reiji took a seat across the desk and sighed.

Reiji: "Kai, it’s too late. Why are you still here?"

Kai (coldly): "I know it’s late. So why are you here?"

Reiji: "Because I wanted to have dinner with you."

Kai: "I’m busy."

Reiji: "You’re always busy," he said, standing up. Without warning, he closed the files in front of Kai, grabbed his wrist, and tugged him to his feet. "Come on. Let’s go. Eden’s waiting in the car. I’m starving."

Kai sighed but didn’t resist as Reiji pulled him out of the office and into the car.

Eden turned from the front seat with a warm smile.

Eden: "Heyyy, buddy. Feels like we haven’t seen each other in ages."

Kai: "I’ve just been busy."

Eden: "Don’t be like this. Be Kai, not some robot buried in work 24/7." He chuckled lightly. "Next week’s our graduation, and after that—Reiji and I are getting married."

Kai (coldly): "Congrats."

The words came out flat, emotionless.

Reiji and Eden exchanged a quiet look, sensing the wall Kai had built around himself... one neither of them could break.

After a quiet drive, they arrived at a luxurious restaurant. Kai sat stiffly in his seat, his expression distant, like he didn’t want to be there at all. He glanced around without interest, not even bothering to hide the fact that he was annoyed.

Reiji, trying his best to lift the mood, leaned forward with a smile.

Reiji: "Come on, Kai... at least try to enjoy the evening."

But Kai didn’t respond.

Soon, the food arrived, beautifully plated and steaming hot. Just as Reiji reached for his utensils, Kai’s phone buzzed on the table. Without a word, Kai stood up and stepped aside to take the call.

Kai: "Yes, Dad?"

Takeshi (on the phone): "How are you, my son?"

Kai: "Doing well."

Takeshi: "Can you come home? I want to see you before I leave. I’m heading out of the country for business, and I’d like to see you before I go."

Kai paused briefly, then answered,

Kai: "Okay. I’ll come in twenty minutes."

Takeshi (warmly): "Okay. I’ll be waiting."

Kai ended the call, slipped the phone into his pocket, and walked back to the table. He picked up his coat from the back of his chair.

Reiji: "Where are you going?"

Kai: "Dad wants to meet me now, so I’ll get going. Enjoy your meal."

His face was as cold as his voice. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the restaurant, leaving Reiji and Eden sitting in silence, exchanging concerned glances.

After some time, Kai arrived at the mansion. As he stepped inside, the servants bowed politely. He didn’t say a word, just walked straight through the halls until he reached his father’s room.

He knocked lightly, then opened the door.

Takeshi was sitting on the edge of the bed.

Takeshi (smiling): "Oh, Kai. Come in."

Kai entered and quietly sat beside him on the bed. Takeshi gently patted his back.

Takeshi: "You’re so busy these days. It’s like we live in different countries."

Kai: "I’m sorry, Dad... I’ve just been caught up with work and exams."

Takeshi: "Next week is your graduation. What do you want on your graduation day?"

Kai: "I don’t need anything."

Takeshi smiled softly, though there was a hint of sadness behind it.

Takeshi: "My son... it’s time for you to think about being in a relationship. Getting married. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be around, and I want to see your happiness before I die."

Kai: "Dad... I don’t think I’m ready for a relationship."

Takeshi: "After your graduation, I’ll set up a blind date for you. I hope you’ll give it a chance."

Kai: "Dad..."

Takeshi (firmly, yet gently): "Son... don’t say no."

Kai fell silent, his lips pressed into a tight line.

Takeshi stood up and opened his arms.

Takeshi: "Alright then... give your old man a hug. I have to go."

Kai stood and hugged him. He tried to force a smile... but he couldn’t. Smiling felt like something that didn’t belong to him anymore.

Takeshi left the mansion and quietly slid into the backseat of the car. His secretary, seated beside the driver, glanced back and said, "Sir, I’ve scheduled the meeting with Sebastian Vaughn."

Takeshi didn’t respond. His gaze was distant, lost in the weight of his thoughts.

Hours later, his private jet touched down in America. As they disembarked, the secretary spoke again, "Sir, you’ve had a long journey. You should get some rest. I can arrange the meeting for tomorrow."

But Takeshi shook his head.

"No. I’ll meet him tonight," he said firmly.

The secretary bowed slightly in acknowledgment.

Later that evening, Takeshi sat alone in a luxurious hotel suite. The lights were dim, the city buzzed outside the tall windows, but inside, it was silent. He sat on the edge of the velvet couch, shoulders heavy, eyes dark with regret.

Taking a long breath, he whispered to himself,

"It’s time to fix the things I broke."

There was a knock at the door before it slowly opened.

Takeshi’s secretary stepped inside, bowed respectfully, and said, "Sir, it’s time. Let’s go for the meeting."

Takeshi stood up in silence, slipping on his coat. The secretary opened the door for him, and they left the hotel together.

With his usual calm and composed expression, Takeshi sat quietly in the backseat of the car. After a short drive, they arrived at a luxurious restaurant. As the car pulled up to the entrance, uniformed guards stepped forward and opened the door for him.

Takeshi stepped out with quiet confidence. His secretary followed closely behind as they entered the elegant establishment.

A servant inside bowed deeply and greeted him with utmost respect. "This way, sir," the man said politely, and guided Takeshi to the private room—

where Sebastian Vaughn was already waiting.

Takeshi entered the private room, his expression unreadable, and quietly sat down across from Sebastian Vaughn.

Bast looked up, offering a polite smile. "Hello, Mr. Takeshi. What brings you here tonight?"

Takeshi met his gaze calmly. "Sebastian Vaughn, I came to talk to you about something important."

Bast leaned back in his chair, his expression composed but curious. "Of course. You’re my precious guest tonight—so let’s eat first."

At his cue, the servants stepped in one by one, gracefully setting the table with a lavish spread of delicious food. The aroma filled the room, but the tension between the two men was unmistakable beneath the polite surface.

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