Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 192: Welcome to the family, Aresh!

Chapter 192: Welcome to the family, Aresh!

Knox looked out the window of the car as the landscape of Sunflower Orphanage came into view.

The morning sun was shining brightly that day, unlike the past few days when the clouds were too generous to pour out rain. Some autumn flowers were blooming on the plant boxes, yet some of the trees began shedding their leaves, and the once grassy playground in front of the orphanage was now covered in dried leaves.

It had been a long wait, but the day had finally come. Knox, accompanied by his son, Knoa, and a couple of Azrael’s trusted bodyguards, was on his way to finalize the adoption process.

Azrael was reluctant to send them just by themselves, but Knox insisted that everything would be okay and that he was willing to take even ten of his men if that would put him at ease.

He was dismayed that his alpha husband couldn’t go, as they both wanted to welcome Aresh into the family as a whole, but he understood that there were things he needed to take care of, things unknown to him, so he went with just Knoa instead.

Despite the absence of his partner, Knox was determined to move forward with their plan. Adopting Aresh was something they had both eagerly anticipated, and today marked the next step in expanding their family.

The vehicle came to a gentle stop, and Knox lifted Knoa from his car seat. The little boy clung to his father’s neck, his eyes already scanning the surroundings, searching for his soon-to-be older brother.

Knox smiled down at his son, pinching his chubby cheeks as he mumbled, "Someone’s excited to see his older brother."

Knoa giggled. The words ’older brother’ brought warmth in his chest and he smiled warmly at his father, nodding excitedly.

As they walked toward the entrance of the orphanage, they were greeted by the director with a welcoming demeanor. His presence exuded a calm assurance and a hint of anticipation.

"Mr. Arden...ah, no, I should call you Mr. Del Valle," the director smiled, extending a hand to congratulate Knox on his marriage. "Ms. Althea was a bit shocked after I mentioned to her about your application and the completion of the needed requirements. I almost thought she didn’t know about your marriage, thankfully she seemed aware and told me to help you with the process as soon as possible. Please, follow me to the office, Mr. Del Valle, I have some papers you need to sign."

Knox answered as he shook the director’s hand firmly, "Okay. But can we let my son meet Aresh now?"

He was relieved that he admitted to his sister about his plans and why they registered their marriage first. There was a possibility that Althea might mention it to his father, so he begged her to keep a secret first. At least, until they successfully adopted Aresh.

He was certain his father would somehow understand, as he was not entirely unknowledgeable about the adoption protocols.

A wedding ceremony can wait, but Aresh might be feeling lonely inside the orphanage.

"Oh, yes, we can, Mr. Del Valle," the director replied, waving his hand to call for some staff they passed on the way. He asked the female employee who came to them, "Bring Mr. Del Valle’s son to meet Aresh and watch over them, will you?"

The female employee answered, "Yes, sir." She looked at Knoa and smiled brightly, trying to show she wasn’t harmless so the kid would come to her willingly.

Unbeknownst to the female employee, Knoa had been anticipating meeting his brother Aresh, so when he heard that he could see him finally, he wriggled his feet, indicating that he wanted to be put down.

Once Knox set him on the floor, he hopped merrily and shouted, "Please, pretty sister, take me to brother Aresh already!" He even grabbed the female employee’s fingers as he hopped like an excited bunny.

The female staff smiled and took Knoa away after excusing themselves. Knox made sure that two of the four bodyguards that came with them accompanied Knoa.

The orphanage’s director led him through the corridors of the orphanage filled with the cheerful chatter and laughter of children. It only had been a month since Knox visited the place, yet the rooms had a drastic change.

From the minimal design of the interior walls and simple yet accessible approach, the walls now were adorned with colorful drawings, and small paintings – kids’ paintings – were hung on the corridor walls, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

Knox unconsciously smiled. Judging from most of the paintings hung on the wall had similar strokes and themes – beaches. He suddenly stopped as his attention was caught by one familiar place – the beach on the other island capturing the villas where they stayed before.

The painting was a bit messy and vague, but the concept was there, even the small indications that it was that particular place, meaning that the painter captured the distinguishing feature of the subject.

The director’s voice came from behind him, snapping Knox from his thoughts. "Did you recognize it? That one is painted by Aresh. After your family left, he painted that piece."

Knox, extremely surprised, whirled his head to the director, "He can paint?"

"Yes. He can also sew and is very deft with his hands," the director responded, seemingly proud of the six-year-old kid. "I’m glad that someone financially capable is the one who wants to adopt him. I’m actually afraid that his talent would come to waste if he doesn’t get enough support."

The director continued walking. "Oh, I didn’t mean to pressure you into supporting him. He’s still a kid so we never know how he will develop as he grows older. Please, don’t mind my words."

Knox, "No problem, director. If Aresh wants to pursue painting, sewing, or even both, Azrael and I will support him."

The director smiled, "Aresh is lucky to have both of you as his parents."

Knox, "Thank you for saying that."

After a brief discussion and paperwork, the director phoned the employee who took Knoa and ordered her to bring him and Aresh to his office. Knox fidgeted in his seat. He wondered how the boy would react now that he was officially part of their family.

Not long after, the door creaked open, revealing the two kids holding each other hands. Aresh stayed next to the female staff, while Knoa let go of his hand and ran to his Papa.

Knoa jumped, failing to contain his excitement. "Papa! Papa! Brother Aresh wants to go home with us now! I told him we’ll take him today, and he cried!"

"I didn’t!" a flustered yet small voice resonated in the room.

Knox glanced back at Aresh, his eyes lingered on the kid’s face, noticing the puffiness of his eyes. Instead of getting worried, he chuckled. The surprise he planned was sabotaged by his son, whom he had forgotten to ask to keep the purpose of their visit a secret in the meantime.

Thus, there was no need to prolong that awaited reunion.

Knox opened his arms wide as he crouched on the floor. "Come here...son."

Aresh’s eyes lingered on Knox, hesitant but teary. Knoa, who stood beside Knox, ran to his older brother, grabbed both of his hands, and pulled him to his father. Aresh was stunned by the action, but he didn’t struggle, instead, he let Knoa drag him until they both reached their father’s arms.

Knox wrapped his arms around the two, burying his head between them and pushing them on their shoulders. He rubbed Aresh’s back and spoke tenderly, "Welcome to the family, Aresh. From now on, call me Papa. You’re my son now, so whatever you need, whatever you want, however you feel or think, don’t hesitate to share them with us."

Slowly, Aresh’s small back began to tremble, and soon enough, sobs and sniffles were heard in the room. Knox caressed the kid’s back, but he wondered why the other back he held was shaking too. He pulled Knoa away, only to see him crying as well, with snots and tears mixing on his face.

"Knoa...you’re crying too..." Knox stated, chuckling at the state of his youngest son.

Knoa hid his face behind his little hands and answered, "P-Papa...this...hic...this...Papa, tears of...hic...joy...uwah..."

Knox and the others were speechless before they burst out laughing, fascinated at the little guy’s reactions. Knox wiped his face with one hand, while the other continued to rub Aresh’s back.

With the adoption finalized and the two children falling asleep after crying again when Aresh had to say goodbye to the orphanage, Knox decided to visit his sister Althea’s resthouse nearby.

The resthouse was as inviting as ever, with its warm, earthy tones and the scent of fresh flowers wafting through the air coming from the well-tended garden. Hurried footsteps came rushing to them as their car rolled into the driveway.

Edna appeared, sporting a surprised expression that soon lit up upon recognizing Knox and his kid.

"Sir Knox! It’s wonderful to see you again! What brought you here?" Edna dashed to them, welcoming Knox with a frantic excitement.

She calmed down when he noticed two bodyguards come out of the car, each carrying a sleeping child. Confused, she turned to Knox and asked, "Isn’t that Aresh? Why did you bring him here? Did the orphanage permit you?"

Knox smiled proudly. He guided the old woman back inside the house and answered, "Yes. I was allowed to adopt him, so now, he’s my son, Nana Edna. Aresh is officially part of my family."

Edna looked astonished. Her mouth fell in disbelief. She recalled the omega’s disappointment after his grandson, Ragel, told him about his failed attempt to adopt the kid.

"How? Did you get married, Sir Knox? My, Miss Althea didn’t inform me!" Edna exclaimed; a bit upset.

Knox apologetically looked at the caretaker and explained, "It was a sudden marriage, Nana Edna, so even Althea just found out at the last minute. We plan to marry, but we didn’t hold a ceremony and just registered our marriage so we can finally adopt Aresh."

"Oh, so that’s it. Who did you marry, Sir Knox? Did he come with you?" Edna inquired; her curiosity was evident in her voice.

Knox, "No. Azrael was too busy to come, so I came with just Knoa."

Edna paused for a bit. The name the omega mentioned seemed familiar to her, yet she couldn’t remember where she heard it. Glancing at Knox, Edna tried to ask about his husband, but Knox interrupted her.

"Right, Nana, why am I not seeing Ragel? Did he go somewhere?"

Edna froze. Knox noticed the change in her demeanor, so he probed carefully, "Nana...did something happen?"