Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 159: Admitting to oneself

Chapter 159: Admitting to oneself

Geraldine and Althea were long gone when Nathaniel finally spoke again. His eyes were focused on the desk as if he was watching something on it by the way his eyes never blinked.

He was momentarily lost in thoughts after his daughter slapped him with her opinion. Is it the truth? Did he truly manipulate his youngest son without considering his feelings?

Nathaniel sighed and hid his face in his clasped hands. He sighed again, this time, louder and heavier.

’I’m sure you loathe me so much now, Ian. Even though I wonder if angels can feel hatred, I’m sure you’re cursing me up there,’ he muttered to himself with closed eyes.

He bitterly laughed and gazed at the window, asking his secretary in a forlorn voice, "Am I really making things hard for him?"

Steve answered, his voice full of understanding, "You only want the best for him, sir," he then cleared his throat and added, "But you’re doing it wrong."

Nathaniel snickered at himself. His eyes were distant and lost and within his green orbs, emotions that Steve rarely saw in him swirled inside, turning his cold and impassive expression into a pool of unkept feelings.

"I’ve been a father for four rowdy kids, for three decades...and yet, I still don’t know how to do it perfectly. I still failed," the chairman remarked, his voice laced with surrender and exhaustion.

A warm smile formed on the secretary’s lips as he responded, "Parenting could never be perfect, sir. Parents are bound to make mistakes, but the best things about them are, they help them improve and see their kid eye to eye."

Nathaniel slightly nodded. He finally met his secretary’s eyes and admitted honestly, "I don’t trust that young alpha, Steve."

"I know, sir. I, too, didn’t trust him before. Young master Knox is just too good for him," Steve replied with a smile.

However, he brought his phone to the desk and showed the screen to his master.

Nathaniel looked down on it and asked, "What’s this?"

Steve sighed. He hesitated for a bit, fearing that he might be going out of his way too much. In the end, he stated, "Chairman, I’m sure you know it too. People change when they have someone to protect, to be with, or to be happy. The change could be worse, could be shallow, but could also be great and better."

He zoomed the article for the chairman and continued, "He’s been participating in all fundraising events Miss Althea is organizing. He was spotted on several outreach programs conducted by SmilEarth, and he’d been anonymously supporting other charity organizations as well.

"I don’t think if my words will matter, sir, but this man...he’s a better man than his father. I hope you’ll see him for who he is, not for whom he came from."

After a few minutes, Nathaniel still didn’t speak and just stared at the article. Steve nervously took back his phone and excused himself, "I’ll excuse myself then, Chairman. It is late already; you should retire for the night as well."

With that, Steve left, hoping that his words somehow made an impact on his master.

The night passed and a new morning arrived, bearing hopeful prayers from people looking forward to a bright day. The weather was fine and the sky was clear, erasing the trace of a downpour a day ago.

Knox was woken up by light kisses that smothered his face. At first, he thought it was his son, so his lips curved to a smile. But when the corners of his lips were licked, his eyes shot open immediately, witnessing a creation made from a perfect formula.

His eyes were dazzled by the halo above the man’s head. He instinctively covered his eyes with his elbows, but Azrael just peeked underneath, smiling childishly.

"Hi, pretty...how are you feeling?" A gentle voice entered Knox’s ears.

He adjusted his eyes from the brightness of the morning sun passing through the glass windows. He mumbled afterward, "Azi..."

Azrael smiled mischievously, "So, you started calling me by the nickname now?"

"You don’t want to?" Knox asked as he rubbed his eyes. He tried to sit up, but instead of helping him, the alpha even lay on top of him, pinning him back on the bed.

Azrael rested his chin on Knox’s moving chest. He grinned, "I don’t mind, but that’s how those jerks are calling me, and I don’t want to lump you on their group. Call me with another name."

Knox rolled his eyes at the guy and replied, "We never really talked about how to call each other, didn’t we? Oh, I used to call you names before..." his smile crooked when he remembered the ones he mostly used.

Curiosity shone in Azrael’s eyes. He slightly lifted his body supported by his arms folded on both of Knox’s sides. He stared directly at his bright green eyes, only a few inches away. He then asked, "Names like what?"

Knox avoided the alpha’s interested eyes. He nervously muttered, "Like ’boss bull’ or ’bulldozer’...I forgot the rest."

He heard a light chuckle and his tangled hair was brushed away. It was so gentle and tender that Knox was fooled to look at Azrael again, only to be greeted with furrowed eyebrows and downward lips.

Azrael asked grumpily, "Where did those come from?"

Knox explained immediately, "Well, you were always angry every time I saw you back then. You’d get angry about the smallest and random things. I found you a bit mentally unstable, honestly. I thought maybe you had anger issues since you were like a bull whose nose was always fuming with smoke."

He tried to tease the alpha, "Your nose would enlarge like this and you’d start charging to me. Was it your nose that steamed or your ears? You were the bull but your face was as red as the cloth the matador waves when you’re mad."

Azrael frowned. He lunged down and bit the tip of Knox’s nose, surprising the omega. His back was slapped when it took a minute and he didn’t let go.

Once he did, he chuckled and said, "If I’m a mad bull, then now you’re Rudolph."

Knox squeezed Azrael’s cheeks and replied, "You’re just making fun of me."

Azrael, "You’re the one who did it first. You made fun of my nose and ears."

Knox laughed at the guy’s dramatic act. How could he even pull those eyes wobbling from being hurt and then quickly change them into playful ones? Knox wondered.

From the alpha’s cheeks, Knox’s hands went on and caressed the man’s forehead. He moved his hands on his face as if he were molding clay, as though he was perfectly crafting a symmetric and aesthetically pleasing masterpiece.

He mumbled as he let himself lost in those crystal-colored eyes, "I was. I find it funny that you were always angry but then you’d act the opposite. You were mad because I couldn’t cook properly, but then you’d shove me out of the way and do it yourself, yet you’d still feed me."

Knox then confirmed it to himself, ’Indeed. I’ve already fallen on this man even before then.’