Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 148: A discussion between father and son

Chapter 148: A discussion between father and son

Aside from evading Knox’s question, Azrael seemed to realize that he had forgotten many things he needed to tell him. As he drove along the highway, he remembered how he happened to ask his son about Lyssana.

’That’s the kind lady who gives us toys, Daddy!’ Knoa exclaimed after squinting his eyes at the picture he showed him.

Azrael nodded his head. Lyssana was truly kind, that was what he believed when he was younger. It was she who continued raising him after Rage neglected him. And in all those years, Lyssana had never been anything but thoughtful and truthful to Azrael.

However, seeing how loyal she is to his father, there’s a doubt settling in his mind after learning that she might deliberately approach Knoa upon his father’s orders. If that’s the case, then it means that Rage has already found out about his son.

How? Azrael pondered. He voiced out to Knoa, ’Did she approach you? Did she talk to you?’

Knoa looked up for a moment, seemingly recalling what happened at the daycare center. A few seconds later, he earnestly nodded his head. Azrael asked again, ’What did she tell you?’

Knoa answered innocently, ’She asked me who my parents are! She told me that she knew my Papa, so I confirmed it to her," his lively expression dampened and guilt flashed in his doe green eyes, ’But I didn’t tell her about Daddy, because Papa said not to tell anyone about you...’

Azrael ruffled the kid’s head and smiled, ’That’s fine, baby. I want to know what else did she do.’

Knoa touched his head as he replied, ’She did what Daddy did! She gave me a head pat and played with my head! She also gave me a lollipop but I didn’t accept it because Papa would get angry if I accepted food from someone he doesn’t know!’

’You did the right thing, baby. Don’t pick and eat someone’s food as well,’ Azrael grinned, his eyes beamed with tease as he recalled the very first time they met.

Knoa grinned like him, guilty but not ashamed. He couldn’t help but see himself in the kid with that similar smile. Thinking back, why did he not realize it when Knoa’s exactly his carbon copy?

It would only take Rage a few pieces to complete the puzzle.

He honked at the gates after arriving at his father’s residence. The tall metal gate automatically opened and his car rolled to the entrance.

How long has it been since he stepped foot in that place? A few weeks? Months? Either way, he certainly didn’t miss the dreadful atmosphere in that place. Even if they filled the living room with indoor plants that gave off a cozy ambiance, the place was as still as gloomy as he remembered.

"You’re back, young master Azrael," a voice came from the corner. Lyssana emerged in his sight with a bright and kind smile. "It’s been so long since the last time I saw you, young master. I’m full of regret that I wasn’t here that time you and your father fought. Perhaps, if I was only here, that wouldn’t happened at all."

Lyssana approached Azrael and gently took his hand. Worry was etched in her eyes as she examined Azrael’s palm, "Are you alright, young master? How could you do such a thing? You should never hurt yourself again, never! My heart broke when I heard from the maid how bloodied the master’s office floor was. No matter how enraged you are to your father, you shouldn’t hurt yourself! Goodness, it scarred! Did you not apply any ointment at all?"

Azrael sighed. He was in a hurry to meet his father but didn’t want to upset the woman, so he indulged her. "A scar isn’t a big deal, Lyssana. I came here to meet my father...no, I came here to meet both of you. I have something I want to ask."

Lyssana looked up with a bewildered look. Her petite figure seemed so delicate against his tall posture. Azrael took his hand back and asked directly, "I heard you applied as a janitress in a daycare center. Why? Did my father fire you already? Or is it that the salary here isn’t providing you enough?"

Lyssana froze. Her face paled and she quickly averted her eyes. She walked away to Azrael and fiddled with her hands.

Azrael pursed his lips. "I have proof already, so you don’t have to deny it. I came here to ask what is your intention. Did he ask you to do that? I’m certain he already found out, so did he ask you to monitor the kid?"

Lyssana kept mum.

Azrael was about to grab her and force her to answer him, only if he hadn’t heard a deep voice laced with glee and elation.

"How could I ever do that to my only grandson! I wouldn’t want to scare him," Rage stood by the foot of the stairs. He opened his arms widely welcoming his son warmly, as though he had forgotten all the shameless and cruel things he did.

Rage happily remarked, "I only asked Lyssana to get some samples."

"Samples?" Azrael asked dangerously. He displayed displeasure at his father’s tone.

Rage waved his hand and walked to him, "Of course, I can’t blindly believe the possibility even if the kid was a spitting image of you when you were younger. I can’t also rule that the omega only had sex with you when the kid was conceived, right?"

Azrael’s hand balled into fists. His nails clawed in his palm, and his eyes flared with anger at the man before him. He insulted Knox right in front of him, and yet he was enjoying how he lost his composure.

Azrael then wondered, ’If I slapped him for what he looked like back then, I wonder how would he react?’

He let out a heavy sigh and smirked at his father afterward, "You must be enjoying seeing me all fired up and irked with your insults. I guess, the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree. I do remember how devastated you were when you were dumped. In that sense, we truly were alike."

Azrael witnessed how his father’s body stiffened. His face changed, and he could tell the grim atmosphere in that room became more unpleasant and heavier.

Rage glared at his son. He muttered deviously, "It seems you no longer fear what would happen to you or your boyfriend...or your son."

"After knowing who they are, I don’t think you have the balls to touch them ever again," Azrael retorted with much hatred.

Anger flashed in Rage’s eyes. He stepped forward and was about to grab his son by the collar, when Lyssana stepped in between them, sporting a teary-eyes expression and lips quivering as she spoke, "Let’s stop this conversation, and proceed into what’s important, master," she glanced over her shoulder to look at Azrael, "Young master, you said you have something you want to talk about, right? Why don’t you head to the office and talk about it diplomatically? No fighting, please."

The two alphas glanced down at the petite old woman. Rage furrowed his brows at the audacity of the female beta to order them around, but when Azrael walked away and headed to the door, daring to leave the mansion once more, he sighed and compromised.

"I do have something to tell you about, son. So, don’t leave yet, and let’s talk properly. I guarantee you’ll profit in this matter," Rage said, stopping Azrael from leaving. He whirled in the direction of his office and before walking away, he commanded Lyssana to bring them refreshments.

Azrael followed almost immediately, not giving Lyssana another glance.

Lyssana frowned a bit, but soon, a satisfied smile appeared on her face, as she thought how the two dominant alphas easily granted her wish. She felt proud, thinking about how she could easily manipulate the father and son.

She then went on to prepare their teas, with a joyful heart.

As soon as Rage sat behind his desk, he threw the brown envelope to his son. Azrael didn’t need to see what was inside, so he just sat on the couch with crossed legs and folded arms.

Rage snickered, "What? Aren’t you going to check it?"

Azrael answered, "I’m confident I’m the father, why would I need to see that piece of crap? Spill what you’re planning. Don’t even think of harming my family. Or I might really forget you’re my father."

"Oh, come on, son. I know you already did," Rage chuckled, not even bothered by the fact the son he brought into the world no longer deemed him a parent. He mockingly looked at Azrael and remarked, "Your family?" he laughed ridiculously, and continued, "The both of you aren’t bonded with the holy matrimony yet, son. You aren’t a ’family’ yet."

"It won’t be long. Soon, we will be," Azrael spat, annoyed at his father’s mocking laughter.

Rage leaned back on his chair and raised his brow, "How are you going to do that? Chairman Horace will never accept you, Azrael. No matter how wide you spread your fake benevolence and charitable acts, no matter how long you act kind like a saint, that man won’t even consider you as his son’s life partner. I could bet you he will even go as far as to forcibly marry that omega off to anyone, as long as the person isn’t you."

Azrael gritted his teeth silently. He couldn’t refute his father, knowing the truth in his words. He put his trust in Knox and was doing everything he could to make their union happen sooner, but he still couldn’t see results.

Even the director of the HZ Foundation, Althea Horace, looked at him suspiciously as though she could easily tell his intentions behind his participation in those fundraising events. It was beginning to frustrate him. He wanted to claim Knox and replace his last name as soon as possible.

Both he and Knoa. They belong to him, and he wanted everyone to know that immediately.

Rage noticed the agitation in his son’s expression. His smile grew wider. Once he wondered what could be his son’s Achilles heel that would put him on his palms again, now he finally found it, he couldn’t be so much happier.

The rein was in his hands again.

Rage said, stealing Azrael’s attention once more, "I have a plan, son. One that will surely make the noble house of Horace accept you as their son-in-law."

A devious smirk hung on his lips, as he watched his son’s face crumple, yet his eyes showed interest.