Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 212: Will do it right this time

Chapter 212: Will do it right this time

Knox’s breath hitched. He looked down in disbelief as Azrael’s eyes fluttered open. The first word out of his mouth was his name. Knox. Not a stranger’s name. Not a forgotten love. Not ’who am I’ but his name.

The tears Knox had been holding back finally spilled over as he crumpled beside Azrael’s bed, his hands clutching Azrael’s weak, yet conscious hand. "Dear... you’re awake. You remember me."

Azrael’s voice was hoarse, but his eyes were full of love as he whispered, "Of course I do... how could I ever forget you?"

Knox sobbed, overwhelmed with relief and joy. He pressed Azrael’s hand to his lips, holding it as if he were afraid to let go. "I thought I lost you," he cried. "I thought... I was so scared."

Perhaps because of what happened to Kayden, he was terrified that the same thing might also happen to Azrael. He saw how Shawn, stared blankly at the door, masking his devastation so as not to confuse the patient who knew nothing about him at all.

Extreme relief washed over Knox.

Azrael’s lips quirked into a small, tired smile. "You’re not getting rid of me that easily. And...where is that bastard saying bullshits?"

Knox wiped his tears, still clutching Azrael’s hand. Only then did he notice that Ragel was already gone. Knox blinked and looked toward the door. "He must’ve stepped out. But you heard him?"

"Yeah...the kids?" Azrael asked.

Before Knox could answer, a flurry of activity began. Nurses came in, and as soon as they saw Azrael awake, they quickly paged the doctors.

Knox stepped aside, never letting go of Azrael’s hand, as medical staff began checking his vitals and assessing his condition. Despite the busyness around them, Azrael’s eyes stayed on Knox, a tired but affectionate gaze holding him steady.

He seemed like he wanted to say something, and Knox reassured him that he won’t leave him by squeezing his hand.

As the doctors arrived and began asking questions, Knox took a deep breath, his heart still pounding with the relief that Azrael was truly, fully awake and remembered him. The doctors examined Azrael, checking his reflexes, and asking him a series of questions to assess his mental clarity.

Azrael answered them with a quiet strength, his eyes occasionally flicking back to Knox as if he were the source of his strength.

Then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. Knox turned just as Azrael’s friends burst into the room, their expressions a mix of disbelief, joy, and overwhelming relief.

"Azi, dude! You’re awake!" Rian was the first to rush in, his eyes wide and dramatically teary as he quickly moved to Azrael’s side. Sandro followed right behind him; his usual calm demeanor was replaced with a broad, relieved grin.

"Look at you, back from the brink, huh?" Sandro said, clapping Rian on the shoulder as they gathered around the bed.

Luis came in next, followed by Diva, who let out a loud, excited squeal the moment she saw Azrael’s eyes open. "I knew you’d pull through!" Diva exclaimed, pushing past the others to reach Azrael. She leaned in and kissed his forehead lightly. "You gave us all such a scare, you big idiot."

"Acting nice now, huh? Who was the one planning Azrael’s funeral just a few days ago?" Rian muttered cautiously.

Diva shot him a glare. "Who? The f*ck you’re saying? I’m planning his wedding ceremony! Now that you’re awake, you should hold one already. I want to see Knox in the wedding gown I picked for him!"

Knox awkwardly smiled at Diva. Gown? He didn’t even consider wearing one. However, when he saw Azrael’s eyes sparkle at the mention of it, he sighed and began considering it.

"Ms. Diva, let the boss recover first," Luis cut the excitement.

Azrael chuckled, his voice still soft and raspy, but his spirits were clearly lifted by their presence. "A wedding will be nice. Let’s do it after I recovered."

Rian tapped his shoulders, "Sure. Leave the preparation to us and just make sure to recover fast. We were worried, man. But seeing you like this, it’s... it’s such a relief. Both you and Kayden finally woke up."

Azrael asked, "Kayden...how is he?"

"He was in a coma for two weeks—

"Two weeks?!" Azrael’s eyes widened. He almost sprung up in shock but Diva and Knox pinned him back. "The accident...the explosion happened five days after the accident. How long have I been asleep?"

Rian answered, "You’ve been asleep for more than a week, Azi. Kayden just woke up the other day. He lost his memories..."

Azrael’s eyes shook. Silence reigned over them after that. After it passed, Azrael, filled with guilt and remorse, asked again, "Then, what happened to...Rage? To the ledger?"

It was Knox who replied this time. "My father and Athan are taking care of it, don’t worry."

Luis chimed in. "And, sir, you...are requested to stand in trial as well, once you recover. Chairman Horace promised to support you with his legal team. He said..." the secretary’s eyes briefly glanced at Knox before he continued, "...that it might be impossible for you to...get away without a sentence, but he assured that he’ll do everything to lessen the punishment if...necessary."

Knox lowered his head. He knew it had to come at that point. Azrael seemed ready, and it somehow put him at ease. The atmosphere turned too heavy, so Rian, the jokester in their group, lightened it up.

"You should visit Kayden soon. It’s funny how he didn’t know anything at all! If you tell him he was actually a married man already and had two kids he left on the streets after he divorced his wife, he’d freaked out, and believe it! Hahahaha. I told him he owed me a billion, and man~ he was ready to pay it!"

Diva nodded. "I told him he’s a porn star. He fainted."

Everyone laughed. Ragel, who was watching at the very back, grimaced. These rich kids could laugh at someone’s misfortune. But of course, they were all just joking. He went to the door and was about to leave when Rian called out his name.

"Where are you going?" Rian asked.

Azrael’s eyes shifted to Ragel. His brows furrowed. "There you are. Come here and let me smack you at the head for once."

Sandro, "What? What did he do?"

Azrael, "Planning to steal my husband."

Ragel frowned. "You won’t wake up unless you’re threatened."

Azrael raised his eyebrows at his brother. He sighed and cocked his head at Luis. "Have you briefed him already, Luis?"

Luis nodded. Ragel’s face scrunched in displeasure as he spoke, "I don’t want it." He walked away after that.

Luis sighed; his face weary. "He still has a lot to learn, but he can manage. Don’t worry about him."

"Thanks," Azrael said.

The doctor returned to them and informed them of Azrael’s condition. After learning that he already has a mate, the doctor added some precautions and warnings. "It is helpful to the patient if his mate is nearby, and he is constantly basked in the calming scent of his bonded partner. However, too much might induce his rut, and right now, strenuous activities like extreme and nonstop intercourse will be bad for him. So, I advised moderation."

Knox nodded while Azrael looked dismayed. "Thank you, doc."

The doctor left after saying that they still needed to monitor Azrael for a few days, so he won’t be able to leave the hospital yet.

After everyone left, the room fell into silence again. Knox yawned. He rarely went home to the mansion because he wanted to stay with Azrael, but every time a nurse would come in and administer medicine, Knox would jolt awake and he would have a hard time falling back to sleep again.

"Are you sleepy? Want to lie here?" Azrael patted the space next to him.

Knox nodded. The bed was bigger anyway, and he made sure that his body won’t be in the way when nurses checked up on him. He carefully lay on the other side, rubbing his eyes as he rested his head on the pillow.

Knox mumbled then, "The kids...they’re with Althea. They will be back soon. Also...another one...is on the way..."

Azrael looked confused. The kids will be back soon? From where? And what’s on the way?

Knox was really sleepy, but he forced himself to be awake for a bit longer. He took Azrael’s hand and instinctively moved it to his stomach, as he looked up at Azrael with a nervous, yet hopeful expression. "Dear...this is what I wanted to tell you as soon as you wake up."

Azrael’s hands trembled. His pupils shook in anticipation. He wasn’t stupid. Just Knox placing his hands above his stomach gave him an idea already. His heart pounded and the numbers on the machine might have increased, but Azrael still asked his excited husband of the great news. "What is it?"

"I’m pregnant," Knox smiled. "We’re having another baby...the doctor said it was six weeks already. Azrael—mph!"

His words were sealed inside as his lips were covered in an instant. Knox closed his eyes as he kissed Azrael back, however, they shot open again after he felt something wet drop on his cheeks.

Despite his weakened state, Azrael’s grip tightened around Knox’s waist as he whispered. Is voice muffled and broken, "I love you, Knox. I love you so much. Thank you for giving me the chance to become a father again. This time, I promise, I will do better..."

Knox teared up. "I will be hard...I’m going to become so moody that I might end up not wanting to see you and then crying after I don’t see you."

Azrael chuckled. "I don’t mind. You can order me around, tell me to go buy something I don’t even know exists, or punch me, kick me if it gets too hard for you. I seriously can’t wait to see you with a baby bump. God...I’m so...so..."

Azrael buried his head on Knox’s chest. He hugged him tighter but got anxious that he might suffocate their baby. He was about to move a bit away, but Knox hugged him closer again. He pulled his husband’s head on his chest, and lulled him with his heartbeat, as he himself drifted in dreamland.