Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 157: Sick and furious [2]

Chapter 157: Sick and furious [2]

Athan, astonished by what Azrael mentioned, retorted, "So, now you’re going to force my brother to marry you? I knew you were up to no—

"Forcing?" Azrael sarcastically chuckled. He eyed Athan smugly and added, "No one’s forcing anyone here, Horace. Knox and I agreed to marry. He accepted my proposal. Now, all I need is for him to walk down the aisle to completely be mine. The only things that hinder us are you and your father, and that goddamn filial piety!"

Azrael’s volume was increasing again, so Kayden stepped in and calmed him, "Hey, easy, Azi. We still aren’t sure of what happened."

Kayden’s lips pursed tightly together after saying that. He took back his own words after realizing that Athan never said about his people not showing sympathy toward Knox.

Maybe they tried to convince the omega to come inside the car or go home, and it was only Knox who insisted on staying outside. He immediately blamed them without knowing the whole truth.

However, Azrael was unshakeable. He continued obnoxiously, "No. I’ll tell you what happened."

He glared at Athan contemptuously, "Knox went there to ask your father for forgiveness. Last night, he couldn’t even sleep well because the guilt was letting him. He was afraid that if your father learned about it, he would abandon him again. Yet this morning, he smiled, hoping that your father would understand!

"Believe me, I’m happy that he found his family. A family he’d been wanting for so long, that even if I offer him one, even if I offer to give him a family of his own, he still wants you and your goddamn family! He’s afraid of upsetting your father, of being a disappointment that he’s jeopardizing his own happiness!

"Yet that same man he went and met turned him away and didn’t even consider Knox for once! Your father did nothing but abandon him and when the ghost of his mistake grew enough to cause him trouble, he hunted him and then manipulated him! Don’t f*cking tell me he cares! All he cares about is your family’s name! He was molding Knox into a puppet that he could be proud of. That’s bullshit."

Azrael huffed. Now he understood what it was like to be angered on someone’s behalf, on someone’s situation. The Knox Arden he met would probably shout and curse at them before, but now Knox might have been braver and stronger, but he softened as well.

After all this, he could bet the omega would forgive them, even claiming that it was all his fault. To see your loved ones own up to mistakes they didn’t even commit just to keep an unsecured relationship fastened to them is painful.

Knox will forget his worth if people keep treating him like he needs to be something great, to be something remarkable to be accepted.

Azrael grew up like that. He knew the pressure and the fear of losing what he cared if he failed and grew up a disappointment. Now, he wanted for Knox to break free from it, just like he did. If only Knox could be more assured, he would see he didn’t need a blood-related relationship to not be abandoned.

He already has a family of his own, one that will never exchange or forsake him for anything no matter what.

Azrael spoke afterward, "I will never let him go back in that damned place ever again."

Athan reasoned, "Knox will...be saddened if you did that, Del Valle. Sure, my parents might be cruel to ignore Knox’s protest, but why would you think he’d stay, standing there for hours, if he’s just going to choose the easy way and disregard our father?

"He didn’t want to live with our father hating him, and taking Knoa away from us. We both know where all these are stemming from. What he experienced runs deep in his veins, it always haunts him, the way he lost his family in just a month.

"Knox is always anxious that his family will leave him again. But...we’re not leaving him. My father...our father, he might be too strict, but he truly regretted abandoning Knox. He’s making up for all the years he wasn’t there for him. If you proceed with what you just said, then you’re the one taking us away from him. You, of all people, should understand Knox better.

"Although I’d be happy if you guys fall apart because of your stubbornness...you’re right, Knox is happy when he’s with you and Knoa. But he’ll be happier if my family is with him... on his most important day.

"I’m sorry this happened to him. I will talk to my father personally, so please, don’t do anything reckless yet. Let’s stop...stressing Knox and compromise," Athan extended his hand for a handshake.

Kayden glanced at Azrael whose face was indefinable. He seemed relieved, glad, disgusted, cringed, and many more. His expression was unfathomable, raising nervousness in the doctor’s system.

What if Azrael insisted on fighting? Thankfully, the alpha had matured. He reluctantly took Athan’s hand and shook it slightly.

Kayden sighed in relief, but his ease was short-lived when Azrael proudly remarked, "I take it that you’re finally accepting me to be your brother-in-law. We’re both the same age, aren’t we? Either way, since Knox is younger, as per the unspoken rules of marriage, I shall let myself call you older bro—

Athan snatched his hand back and whirled away, sharply hurling the words to Azrael as he walked away, "No thanks. And for the record, you’re older."

Athan left after that. Azrael turned to Kayden, "I’m only a month older but he acted like it was a big deal."

Kayden raised his brows at his cousin as he asked incredulously, "You know his age and birthday?"

Azrael proudly answered, "I know everything about Knox and the people around him. Thanks, by the way. But see yourself out. I’m waking my son up."

Azrael went back inside the other bedroom. Kayden just shook his head and walked out, a smile hanging on his lips, feeling relaxed and satisfied at the progress between Athan and Azrael.

Meanwhile, at the Horace Mansion, Steve was standing before the chairman’s desk, head bowed his chin almost touching his chest, his back trickling with cold sweat at the tense atmosphere inside the office.

He was summoned suddenly, and when he learned the reason, he was astonished. Now, he was the one getting blamed for not taking care of the matter properly. Steve’s pupils were focused on the floor, trying hard not to glance at the chairman’s wife.

He was partly to blame since he trusted the woman. Steve pursed his lips and prepared himself for the chairman’s ire.