Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 169: Meeting the Horaces

Chapter 169: Meeting the Horaces

The rain poured outside the windows of Chairman Nathaniel’s study, a relentless downpour that mirrored the tense atmosphere in the room.

His study, a room that he often uses more than his bedroom, is a commodious space that gives off a somber ambiance, adorned with dark mahogany and lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, seemed even more imposing from the dark clouds and heavy rain pouring outside.

The space was divided in half – on the left, a large desk enough for a group of six to hold a meeting was in the center, and a set of four large three-seater sofas and two round center tables on the other half, closer to the double door.

Chairman Nataniel Horace sat on the grand desk; his stern gaze fixed on the glass windows, as though he was lost in the wonder of how graceful those tiny drops were, trickling on the glass like a morning dew sliding on a leaf undisturbed.

Steve stood on the edge of the desk, like a loyal and patient servant waiting for his master’s orders. Geraldine was seated on the sofa facing the desk directly, sporting an opposite expression from the secretary, filled with impatience and boredom.

While Athan and Althea were seated together on the other one on her left side, facing the door instead, both silent and anxious about how the meeting would unfold before their eyes. The two had an unspoken agreement to back their younger brother, Knox, but they also felt dread upon looking at their father’s face.

Athan inhaled deeply. Last night, he received a simple text message from Knox, saying that he’d meet their father. However, he wasn’t expecting that the date would be set as soon as the morning came.

He was shocked, so he called him, but despite the rain, Knox told him that they were already preparing to come. With that, he told his father and now they were all gathered to meet Azrael Del Valle, the alpha that snatched Knox away from them.

The study’s heavy wooden doors opened and revealed Knox, and standing behind him was Azrael, standing tall and unbothered by the four alpha’s gazes on him.

Knox walked in, resolute and determined, his eyes scoured the room. He nodded at the two younger alphas while he bowed to the older female, Geraldine, and finally turned to his father, whose eyes were still fixated on the glass windows, refusing to acknowledge his presence.

Knox’s chest felt heavy. He was hurt, but he expected it already.

Behind him, Azrael followed, emanating a presence that one would cower in fear and command respect. His tall figure towered at the entrance, and his sharp eyes on his chiseled face, roamed the room, gleaming with unreadable expression.

Knox broke the heavy silence, "Chairman...I’ve come."

Nathaniel’s body flinched upon hearing that address. Slowly, he turned his head to Knox and angrily spat, "Are you implying that you’re going to remove yourself from the family, calling me so indifferently like that?"

Knox was baffled at first. He was speechless.

A scoff followed the chairman’s voice, "Look at him, he’s already vomiting you out just because you don’t want to give what he wants."

Athan briefly glanced at Knox before he turned to his mother, "Mom..."

Althea waved his hands at Knox, but it was more like just showing her palm, then her eyes moved past behind him, and she nodded slightly. Knox somehow felt braver after knowing that his sister was acknowledging Azrael’s presence.

Geraldine glared at him, and spoke again, "I heard you collapsed, but you looked healthy. If you did that just to catch your father’s attention, then congratulations, you succeeded."

Knox clenched his fist. Behind him, he could feel Azrael’s unsettled pheromones just from that comment. He ignored Geraldine and explained to his father, "I just fainted from overfatigue. And I just...I just didn’t think that f-father would like it if I called him ’father’ now."

"So, you’re just calling him father whenever it’s convenient to you?" Geraldine contemptuously remarked again.

"It’s surprising to see that the rumors about the elegant and graceful Madame Geraldine Horace about liking tongue-twisters are indeed true."

A voice as cold as the arctic sea and deep as the ocean goes came from behind Knox, startling him a bit. He turned around in surprise, a slight scolding etched on his eyes. He warned Azrael not to say anything unnecessary, but the man ignored his slight protest and walked ahead of him, as though he was protecting him from the sharp glares of his stepmother.

Azrael smiled politely, yet his smile didn’t reach his eyes. He then continued, "You’re specifically good at twisting words, Madame."

Geraldine’s composed expression changed to that of irritation. She pursed her lips and was about to rebuke Azrael when his husband spoke suddenly.

"I believe this is the first time we’re meeting each other, and yet you’re here, insulting my wife already," Nathaniel said, his unwelcoming eyes directed at Azrael.

The latter turned to Knox’s father and smiled ever so respectfully, but everyone in the room could tell how fake it was. Azrael then answered, "I don’t think I understood what you mean, Chairman Horace. Insult? I merely complimented your wife for her amazing eloquence in finding meaning in spoken words."

Knox’s heart raced. Azrael was calm, too calm indeed, to be able to sarcastically answer without being sarcastic at all. He raised his hand and tugged on the alpha’s sleeves, a plea to stop provoking his father and grumpy wife.

"Ha! You’ve had your say, Mr. Del Valle," Nathaniel’s voice was firm and displeased. He added, "But do you think that with this kind of act, you’d be able to get what you want from me?"

Azrael’s face crumpled. "And what...Chairman Horace, do you think I want from you?"

Knox panicked. Azrael’s voice wasn’t good. It was as if he was just waiting for his father to confirm what he was thinking, and he was ready to fire his piece of mind.

But Knox was too slow. His father already answered, "What else? My son, of course." He even emphasized the word ’son’, something that would make Knox happy before, but now it turned into something like a burden to him.

A sarcastic chuckle echoed in the room. Azrael grinned, amused at the older alpha’s possessive claim of his fatherly position. "Do you only call him your son when it’s convenient for you?" he said, mimicking the chairman’s wife’s words. He even added, "And chairman, just to be clear, I didn’t come here to get something from you that you don’t even have no right in. I came here to give moral support to my dearest beloved, who just happened to be your son, unfortunately."

Knox palmed his face. His fear of Azrael getting insulted was unnecessary since it was happening the other way around. The only thing he could do was call his name in a loving voice, that would surely make Azrael finally obey him.

"Dear..."