Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 208: Which one is it?

Chapter 208: Which one is it?

Rage had given them an ultimatum. Five days. After five days passed and the ledger was still not in his possession, Azrael won’t live another day. Nathaniel was certain Rage would retaliate once he learned their trickery. So, he already made plans for his family beforehand.

His decision to send Knox and the children to England was swift and without room for discussion. He could sense the impending danger in their current situation and couldn’t risk any of them staying behind.

Azrael’s kidnapping had shaken the family, but there was still much at stake. The ledger that had been recovered was their last hope to take down Rage without jeopardizing Knox’s safety or the lives of his children, and his husband.

"Althea, I will leave Knox to you," Nathaniel called his daughter and gave her strict instructions. "He will likely refuse to come, so, sedate him if necessary. If he goes, the children will naturally follow."

"He’ll get mad," Althea replied, she agreed with her father’s choice, though it was clear she did not relish the idea.

Knox had always been strong-willed, and there was no telling how he would react.

The following morning, the fourth day, Althea decided to put the plan in motion. She timed her presence in the kitchen, stirring a cup of coffee on the counter while Athan, who was aware of the plan, was seated on the stool in the breakfast nook, sipping his own drink.

Knox came downstairs, yawning. He was surprised to see his half-siblings in the kitchen, feeling a bit guilty for the reason he was sleep-deprived—his plan to secretly follow Athan once they leave for tonight.

His father did not disclose the location, so Knox had to do it to know where Azrael was. If no one knows that he’ll come, then it would be easier for him to move in the surroundings, and find out where they locked up Azrael.

"Morning, Knox," Althea greeted him with a small smile. "Do you want coffee? I can make one for you."

"Sure, thank you," Knox gladly answered. He was about to go over to his sister when Athan grabbed his arm. Turning to his half-brother, Knox gave him a questioning look asking him what was wrong.

Athan shrugged his shoulders and pulled the other stool next to him. "What have you been up to at night that your eyes are similar to a panda now?"

Knox stiffened. He averted his eyes and swallowed. "I can’t sleep, the kids are always...calling for their daddy."

Althea came and slid the cup on the counter. "Here. You should take better care of yourself too, Knox. Your children need you the most right now."

"I know, Althea," Knox gave her a reassuring smile before sipping on his cup. The coffee wasn’t too hot, but it was so strong that it woke him up from his sleepiness, only to feel sluggish again in a few seconds. His eyes widened and he tried to look up, witnessing the apologetic look of his half-siblings. "What..."

Before he lost consciousness, he felt Athan’s arm catching him.

Althea quickly ordered the servants to get the two sleeping kids and bring them into the van. Athan carried Knox, his expression hard. He could hear Knox yelling at him once he woke up in another country, but their safety came first.

Soon after, Althea came down with her small suitcase. Chairman Nathaniel and Steve stood by the doorway. Althea approached them. "We’re going, Dad."

Nathaniel nodded. "Take care. Send my regards to your mother and brothers. Shawn will follow you soon, so you will have someone to watch over Knox. Until all this mess is cleared, don’t let him go back."

With that, Althea left with Knox, Aresh, and Knoa. Athan accompanied them to the airport. They boarded their family’s private plane. Several hours later, the cold air of England welcomed them.

The flight to England was a blur for Knox, who was still groggy from the sedative Althea had administered. When he woke up in the estate in the English countryside, disoriented and confused, he quickly realized what had happened.

His first instinct was to rage against the decision, but the sight of his children playing quietly in the living room quelled his fury for the moment. They didn’t deserve to see him in this state.

He wanted to go back, but the estate was heavily guarded. He had no choice but to obey for now, knowing how strict and extreme his father could be. With a heavy heart, he watched Aresh and Knoa, who temporarily forgot about their daddy because of the beautiful gardens and horses.

They were welcomed by Geraldine with a few condescending and inconsiderate looks when they came, but she didn’t say anything after that and just let her servants attend to them.

As soon as Knox was alone, he immediately called his father.

"How could you do this?" Knox asked; his voice hurt and accusing.

Nathaniel cleared his throat. His voice was steady but filled with the authority of someone who could not afford dissent. "I know what you’re planning, son. And I don’t like it. Stay there in the meantime. Don’t cause trouble to your sister."

Knox’s eyes widened in shock. "What? No, I’m going back! Azrael is still in danger. You can’t just expect me to stay here when—"

His voice was interrupted by a heavy sound, and Knox could picture his father slamming the table when he lost his patience. "This is not up for debate. It’s for your own safety, and for the children’s. Althea is there to make sure you stay. Shawn will arrive tomorrow."

Knox’s heart pounded in his chest, his anger flaring up. And for the first time, he yelled at his father. "You can’t do this, father! I’m not a child, and you can’t just ship me off—"

Before he could finish, Althea patted his shoulder, her expression apologetic but determined. "Knox, I’m sorry. But this is for the best. Stay here."

"But sister..." Knox wobbled. His eyes blurred for a minute. Is it because he stayed up too late last night? But he was asleep the entire flight! Could it be the recurring effect of the oral sedative his sister forced him to take?

He staggered on his feet and Althea came to his rescue. He could hear his father’s fading voice on the phone.

"Take care of him, Althea," Nathaniel said softly.

*****

Meanwhile, Shawn received an unexpected call from his uncle, Steve. The man was practically family and had always been someone Shawn could trust. But this time, the request was something Shawn wanted to avoid.

"Shawn, you need to go with Knox," Uncle Steve said in a no-nonsense tone.

Shawn shook his head, holding the phone to his ear while pacing his apartment. "Uncle...I can’t just leave everything behind right now. Not right now..." Not until Kayden wakes up...

"You don’t have a choice, son," Steve replied firmly. "Your father has already made the arrangements. He wants you there to keep an eye on Knox and the kids. You know how volatile the situation is right now."

Shawn froze. His uncle knew very well he couldn’t argue with his father’s orders. But he didn’t want to go and leave Kayden, so instead of answering, he ended the call and turned off his phone.

Back in the Horace Mansion, Nathaniel and Raine were busy executing the next phase of their plan. While Knox and the children were safely in England, he had entrusted Athan and Sandro with transporting the black ledger. It was their trump card—the key to bringing down their enemy once and for all. But Nathaniel knew that the ledger would be useless unless it landed in the right hands.

That’s why he had discreetly arranged a meeting with a prosecutor he trusted, someone who wasn’t on Rage Del Valle’s payroll. The prosecutor, a man named Maxwell Moore, was known for his integrity and commitment to justice. He was one of the few people Nathaniel believed could help them navigate the complex legal waters ahead.

"Mr. Moore," Nathaniel said as he handed over the ledger, "this is everything I need you to see. But you have to be careful. The owner has people everywhere."

Maxwell Moore nodded; his expression grim. "I understand, Chairman Horace. I’ll handle this as discreetly as possible. Although going through everything in this book might take time, I promise you I will make sure the ones involved won’t go unpunished."

"I’m aware," Nathaniel replied, his tone serious. "Just make sure it gets done."

Maxwell held the ledger with caution and asked the older alpha for confirmation. "Chairman, are these records...legit?"

Nathaniel stared straight at the man. "Yes."

The prosecutor left with the ledger after that. Nathaniel felt a sense of relief wash over him. It wasn’t over yet—not by a long shot—but it was a step in the right direction. Now, the next thing to do was wait for the result of the other team’s meeting with Rage.