Chapter 864:
The woman tending the roasting stand beamed at the compliment from such a well-dressed man. “Oh, you flatter me, sir. It’s just a simple street treat.”
Felix ordered two additional bags. “I’ll take these home so Grandpa can try them.”
When she caught the faint smile on his face, Rylie’s lips curved as well, knowing that moments like this were rare in her brother’s carefully measured life.
With time to spare before the older women finished their haircuts, the siblings wandered through the mall, snacking as they went.
They eventually passed a lively arcade bathed in neon light, filled with laughter and the clatter of games. Felix’s gaze lingered on the flashing machines and energetic crowd, a spark of uncharacteristic curiosity glinting in his eyes.
“Want to go in?” Rylie asked, catching the flicker of interest in Felix’s expression.
Felix hesitated. Arcades were never part of his world; they seemed meant for carefree teenagers, not someone like him.
“Forget it. I’d only stand out,” he said at last.
“But I really want to play,” Rylie pleaded softly, her tone teasing as she looked up at him. “Will you come with me?”
Her coaxing drew a faint smile from him, and with a quiet sigh, Felix relented. “Alright then, let’s go.”
The moment they stepped inside, a wave of lively music, flashing lights, and laughter surrounded them. The air buzzed with excitement, the atmosphere almost contagious.
Felix frowned at the noise at first, but as Rylie exchanged their cash for tokens and led him to a row of games, even he began to loosen up.
Rylie hadn’t had many chances to play like this either, only a few times with her brothers before Stacey returned to the Kirk family.
Those memories were slowly slipping away.
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They stopped before a claw machine, its glass box packed with plush toys in bright colors. Felix gave it a skeptical glance, thinking it a childish pastime for someone like him. But when Rylie’s eyes sparkled and she said eagerly, “They’re adorable! I want one,” he couldn’t refuse. Sliding a token into the slot, he took hold of the joystick.
The claw descended, clamped weakly around a toy, then let it slip before it even reached the chute.
Unwilling to give up, Felix tried again and again, each failure making his expression grow more focused. After several rounds, he frowned slightly. “The claw’s been loosened on purpose. Winning depends entirely on chance.”
Rylie only smiled faintly. “I suppose that’s how they earn from it.”
After nearly fifty tokens, they finally managed to snag a small pine tree plush.
They both knew it was only luck that won them the prize, yet their joy was sincere when Felix handed the plush toy to Rylie.
Afterward, they moved to the basketball machines for a few rounds. Felix began with his usual composure, but his steady misses soon stirred his competitive streak. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and focused entirely on the basket.
Sweat gathered on his forehead, and when he finally caught the rhythm, the machine blared in celebration. A low laugh escaped him, and a rare, exuberant smile broke across his face.
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