Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 194: It will never change

Chapter 194: It will never change

Knox stood by the entrance gates, while Edna was before him, still astonished at what she found. He recalled the conversation they had after the old woman realized the truth...

’S-Sir Knox...’ Edna’s faint and quivering voice reached Knox’s ears, her eyes trembling and swollen.

Knox gave the caretaker a slow nod, confirming her hunch. It would be better to admit the truth since Edna had been truthful to him.

She gasped once again, her eyes fixated on Knoa. Knox had to push the two kids back from the bodyguard and whispered that they were leaving now that they were awake.

The two kids ran to the garden and played while waiting for his call, as he ordered. Knox turned to the old woman again, the photograph in his hands. He spoke then, ’Azrael...this boy is Azrael, Nana Edna. He is my husband.’

Edna’s eyes shook. Then, it soon softened with sadness. ’Ashler returned here, heartbroken and pregnant. Now, I gave up searching for what truly happened to him. But now...now that I know someone who might be involved with his past, it makes me want to search again. Sir Knox...will you let me know what happened to him?’

Knox’s heart ached. He pursed his lips and shook his head. ’I, too, Nana Edna, didn’t know about it. Azrael...he never told me anything about his other parent...’ he chuckled bitterly, feeling pathetic that he knew nothing about Azrael’s probably most painful memories.

’So, your husband and Ragel are...brothers...’ Edna mumbled.

Knox stood in stunned silence, the weight of that truth settling heavily on his shoulders. He thought of his husband, Azrael, who had always been a pillar of strength and love in their family.

Knox was pulled back into the present when Knoa called out his name coming from the garden. He waved at him and mouthed that they were going home already before he faced Edna again.

"Thank you for telling me, Edna," Knox said softly, his mind racing with thoughts and emotions. "I will need to think about this...and about your request. I...I don’t know if I should tell Azrael so I can’t guarantee you that I will learn about what happened to your...nephew."

Knox’s voice was strained and troubled. If he insisted on knowing about his omega father-in-law, would Azarel allow him? Would he finally tell him and share his painful past with him? He was uncertain, but there was only one thing he was certain enough—his fear of how Azrael would react.

Edna placed a gentle hand on Knox’s arm after she witnessed the storm in the omega’s eyes. "It’s a lot to take in...but sometimes, the truth can heal old wounds, even if it’s painful. Your husband...deserves to know, Sir Knox."

Knox nodded, his thoughts already turning to how he would handle the situation. He let out a deep breath before forcing a farewell smile to the old caretaker. "I will let you know If I hear his story..."

"Thank you, Sir Knox. Please be careful on your way home. Have a safe journey."

As Knox gathered Knoa and Aresh, preparing to leave, he felt a deep sense of responsibility and his chest tightened from that unintentional burden. He had to consider how this revelation would affect his family, especially Azrael.

The drive back home was filled with a heavy silence, interrupted only by the soft chatter of his sons in the back seat.

When they arrived home, a small surprise party he asked Franz, Alex, and Shawn to arrange was held.

"Welcome home, baby Aresh!" The three shouted as they threw confetti in the air.

Aresh was clearly overwhelmed by the warm and lively welcome. He grabbed Knox’s hands and glanced at each unfamiliar face. Then, the lights went out, and from the corridor, Azrael emerged holding a round cake with the letters ’welcome home, son’ on the surface.

Knox swallowed the lump in his throat and set aside his plan and worries. He smiled at his husband, putting a thumbs up. Azrael winked at him before he knelt before the kid and held the cake for him to blow the candles.

Azrael then welcomed Aresh with a warm smile and loving words, "Welcome home, baby. From now on, call me Daddy, understood?"

Aresh finally cried startling Azrael who panicked and tried to wipe the kid’s face but remembered that his hands were occupied. Azrael gave him a look asking for help, but Aresh spoke before Knox could reach him. With a broken voice, he spoke, "I...hic, I...am...not...huu...baby..."

"Ah..." the three looked at him guiltily. Azrael pursed his lips inwardly, feeling sorry.

Knox ruffled the kid’s head before sweeping him up from the floor and carrying him in his arms.

Aresh was startled and he looked embarrassed, but Knox reassured him. "Aresh is still a baby to me and his Daddy, I’m sure. To Knoa, I’m sure he will be a big brother. But when you’re with Papa and Daddy, Aresh, it’s okay to act like a baby."

Aresh looked up at him with a tear-stained face. The kid’s eyes were already swollen from crying in the orphanage, and Knox felt guilty for making him cry again.

They shared a small meal over dinner, brought by Rian, Diva, and Kayden who joined them. The night was filled with a harmonious atmosphere, the kids sitting before the turned-on television but their attention was elsewhere—Knoa helping his older brother open presents given to him by the guests.

Meanwhile, the adults were talking, except Azrael and Kayden, who were on the balcony, talking about Azrael’s plan on how to proceed with some matters at hand.

"Are you going to turn him in?" Kayden asked while gazing at the blinking lights of the nightscape.

Azrael, knowing full well who his cousin was referring to, answered casually, "Are you really asking me that?"

Kayden replied, turning to his side, "If you’re the ’you’ before, then I won’t even dare. But now, Azrael...you’ve changed. For the better. Rather than the question of whether to turn him in or not, I think what I really wanted to ask is...if you’re going to put all those changes in vain...and go back to your old ways."

Azrael chuckled bitterly. "It’s haunting me. Change is constant, but people are shallow and weak. Just a single goddamn push and all my efforts will snap and disappear, I know but...f*ck, Kay...if it’s your mother...will you turn him in?"

Kayden’s jaw clenched. He couldn’t answer. He suddenly realized how foolish he was for asking. He looked away and sighed. "I’ll probably...lose my license."

The next morning, as Azrael prepared for work, Knox stood in the kitchen, grappling with the decision he faced. He had to choose whether to confront Azrael with the truth or keep it to himself for now.

Finally, Knox approached Azrael after he walked out of the kids’ bedroom and kissed them goodbye. He hesitated before speaking, the words catching in his throat.

"Dear," Knox began, his voice trembling slightly. "There’s something I need to tell you...it’s uh...it’s...you know when we went back to the orphanage? I visited Nana Edna and heard that Ragel wasn’t there..."

Azrael’s body stiffened, and it didn’t escape Knox’s vigilant eyes. The alpha continued to act like it was nothing and forced an answer, "Ragel? Ah, that alpha who was eyeing you back then. What about him?"

Knox took a deep breath, ignoring some part of his husband’s answer and trying to steady himself. "I found out something important. Ragel’s birth mother is a dominant omega and his name was—

"I’m late with work, Knox, maybe tell me later," Azrael interrupted him. His strides were quick as he approached Knox and kissed his forehead, and then he walked to the door without looking back.

However, before he could grab the doorknob, Knox spoke with a heavy and pained voice, "How long do I need to wait for you to open up to me? You know everything about me, Azrael, but how come I don’t even know the name of the person who gave birth to you? If I hadn’t seen it on our marriage license, I wouldn’t even know!"

Azrael ran a hand through his hair, his expression was cold and impatient, "Knox, not right now..."

"Do I have to hire a private investigator to know more about you? Azrael, why can’t you tell me? We’re married now, aren’t we? We’ve had lots of hard times already. But instead of telling me, you’re always hiding something, you’d rather avoid me than share it with me! I’ve been waiting but you—

"Enough!"

Azrael’s snarled, loud and clear. His voice reverberated in the room, startling Knox. His eyes were red and sharp as if he wasn’t looking at the person he loved but at a stranger.

Knox shuddered at the madness he saw in his eyes. He slowly stepped back, turned away, and furtively wiped his face as he walked away. He locked the bedroom, and as soon as he did, the single tear that fell on his way to the room, burst open like a broken dam.

What’s wrong with him? He cried easily these days. He suddenly became very emotional, and it’s weirding him out. He missed the Knox that would snap back at Azrael if he got yelled at. But Knox also knew that part of him was lost when he loved Azrael.

Like a goddamn weak omega, he became submissive to his alpha. It was infuriating, but despite the complex feelings Knox began exploring and admitting to himself after loving Azrael, his love for him still remained tight and whole—never would be broken, never would ever falter.