Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 120: A trip to the beach

Chapter 120: A trip to the beach

As Rian expected, the house soon got bombarded by shouts from the upper floor. He was tempted to come up and become the middleman.

’Diva is still a woman, even if she looks like a thug sometimes. I should go and stop Azrael,’ Rian thought as he opened the door to the fitness room.

However, his concern was unnecessary as the one who was getting punched was his male friend. Instead of rushing to separate the two, he leaned on the door jamb, crossed his legs and arms, and watched Azrael get beaten to a pulp.

"I wonder what happened here," Rian muttered to himself.

Diva turned to him. She panted and looked at the sagging alpha beneath her. She sighed and let go aggressively, before standing up and walking away from Azrael.

She wiped her forehead and said, "The bastard almost broke his neck from lifting without a properly working brain. The barbel slipped and he just waited until the bar crushed him. Crazy f*cking bastard! If I hadn’t acted quickly, you would have been dead! What’s wrong with you?!"

"He’s suffering from a broken heart, Diva, give him some slack," Rian walked to Azrael who slowly got up from the floor. He jokingly kicked his arm to inquire if he was okay.

Azrael slapped his foot away and answered, "It was an accident. I just forgot to use powder."

"Forgot, my foot. Get up and have your mental health checked!" Diva stomped away after that.

Rian followed her with his gaze, thinking, ’It seemed that she already finished what she came here for. Did Azi agree? This guy...looks so lifeless, what the hell...’

"Hey, instead of dying here, why don’t you go out?" Rian asked.

Azrael glared at his friend and emphasized each word with irritation, "It. Was. An. Accident."

The other guy just shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Yeah, sure. But seriously though, I know a place where you can relax and clear your head. Why don’t you visit the place, and do me a favor while you’re in there."

Without giving a second thought to it, Azrael responded, "I’m not going."

Rian explained even after Azrael’s dismissive tone reached him, "I’m actually volunteering in an orphanage in that place. It’s in a coastal area, so, why don’t you take it as an opportunity to take a break?"

Azrael gave an immediate response, "No thanks."

He stood and touched his swollen face. He turned to the mirror on the wall and grimaced after noticing the small cut on his lower lip. His jaw felt stiff on one side after Diva kept slapping him on that side alone.

He exercised his mouth by opening and closing it while cursing the woman in his head. ’Why would I kill myself? I can’t have my child lose a parent already.’

Rian sighed dramatically, stealing Azrael’s attention again.

He walked to the door and grumblingly mumbled, "Really, what a shame. It was an orphanage sponsored by the Horizon Foundation after all. And tomorrow, there will be an event. So, I bet the whole family will be there. Oh, I guess I should come by myself. Maybe I’d finally meet this ’Knox Arden’ in person."

Rian left after that.

Meanwhile, at the Horace Mansion, Knox was helping his son finish a coloring book. They were both in the pool area, chatting with each other while doing Knoa’s homework.

Athan came to them, carrying a tray of refreshments.

Knox furrowed his brows as he said, "It hasn’t been an hour yet since we had lunch, why are you bringing us food again?"

Athan smiled, "Playing with kids could be tiring. Help yourselves."

Knox felt relieved that they were back to normal. After that day he went out the gates to meet Azrael, Athan treated him kinder and sweeter, as if consoling him.

He reached for the glass of orange juice and sipped on it. Noticing his child looking up at him, he asked, "Do you want a drink?"

Knoa shook his head and yawned. Knox bent down and peeked at his son, "Are you sleepy? Should we stop here?"

The child shook his head again. He pouted, "I’m not finished yet, Papa. I’ll finish it first before I sleep..."

Knox, "Okay. Don’t push yourself, baby, we can do this another time."

The child ignored him. It seemed that he was sleepy judging from the light and cursive strokes. Athan sat next to them and asked Knox in a lowered voice.

"What do you want to do, by the way?"

Knox gave Athan a questioning look.

Athan added, "Mom and Anton will arrive tomorrow. You can stay with us if you want, you know you’re always welcome here. Besides, they were probably informed already, and Dad had a talk with them."

Knox went silent. His eyes darted on Knoa whose work became messy because of his drooping head. He quickly slipped his hand between the table and his forehead when he saw the kid was about to bump his head on the surface.

He took the crayon from Knoa’s hand and gathered him into his lap. The little guy grunted, but he continued sleeping after Knox rocked him in his arms.

He watched his son peacefully sleeping. If it was him alone, then it won’t matter even if the madame treated him coldly or even when the second son insulted him. But he didn’t want Knoa to be the subject of their ridicule and icy stare.

Athan seemed to notice his refusal, so he immediately suggested, "But if you don’t want to, I can ask Steve to escort you to my unit. You and Knoa can stay there in the meantime."

Knox answered after a while, "I guess I’ll just go."

Athan sighed, relieved that Knox wasn’t trying to push living in his former apartment again. However, his relief was washed away quickly after Knox spoke again.

"Also, I’m going back to work. It’s been two weeks since I—

Athan’s eyebrow twitched. He firmly declared, "Knox, I think it would be better for you to take a break for now. That’s one of the reasons why Dad is insisting on a vacation, not just because of the visit. Besides, Knoa is looking forward to going to the beach, isn’t he? Why don’t you take this opportunity to go with him?"

"Knoa has school," Knox replied, looking down at the kid in his lap.

Athan shook his head, "Geez, aren’t you already a strict parent now? What else do three-year-olds learn in daycare centers but play and pass the time? I’m sure his teacher will allow him if he skips a week or more."

Knox frowned. He gave Athan a dismayed look as he thought, ’What do you mean ’play and pass time’? Knoa is learning the alphabet and the colors already. He also knows how to count now and do single-digit addition! Plus, his pronunciation and comprehension are getting better!’

"What are you guys talking about?"

Athan and Knox turned to the newcomer. The former scrunched his face after seeing the tray of sandwiches Althea brought.

"Oh, I didn’t know you already got snacks here," Althea said, placing the tray next to the tray of cookies and cupcakes. She pointed at Knox with her lips and asked, "Is he asleep? Should I bring him inside?"

"No, it’s okay..." Knox answered. He mumbled his gratitude for the club sandwiches she personally delivered. "We’re just talking about taking a vacation."

Althea sat next to Athan, "A vacation?"

Athan grabbed a sandwich and answered, "Yeah. I’m saying that Knox and Knoa should take a trip. Mom and Anton are coming back, and you know those two..."

Althea knitted her brows, confused.

"What’s the matter with that? Dad already warned them to stop their rude behavior toward Knox. They’re old enough to understand what Dad meant. Isn’t it better for Knox to get used to them? You’re now an official family after all."

Althea turned to Knox as she pronounced the last sentence.

Knox lowered his head, and hesitantly mumbled, "I...am afraid I’d just ruined the mood, older sister. You both haven’t seen them in a long time, so I don’t want to dampen your reunion. Maybe next time..."

He gave Althea an apologetic look, but the latter just sighed and expressed her understanding. She then suggested a place to go.

"If that’s the case, then why don’t you try visiting one of the orphanages the HZ Foundation is sponsoring? They will be having a moving-up ceremony for the kids who finish their primary education. As the director of the foundation, of course, I’m invited. But because Mom will be here, I might come a little late since it’s in another city. I’d be glad if you could go on my behalf."

Knox already felt bad after declining to stay, so he couldn’t refuse his older sister after that. He forced a smile and asked, "Which city?"

Althea mentioned the name of the city. Her eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "Oh, perfect timing! That city is famous for its beaches. The orphanage is also near a coastal area. Honestly, I already attended the other ceremonies held by the other orphanages, but this one got delayed because of consecutive rains in the town. Will you go, younger brother?"

Knox reluctantly nodded. Althea beamed which made Knoa flinched from the excited shout. Knox asked after, "When will the event be held?"

Althea smiled, "Tomorrow."

She quickly excused herself and walked away, in case Knox changed his mind. Athan just sighed and tapped Knox’s shoulders, "I’ll tell the head maid to pack your things."

The alpha returned to the mansion after that, leaving the pair of father and son alone under the parasol.