Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 237 - 23: Doing what is right

Chapter 237: Chapter 23: Doing what is right

Killian wiped his tears frustratedly. Why was he crying? Such a man like this alpha doesn’t deserve his tears!

Nathaniel stood frozen, his complexion paled and he was at a loss for words. His mind raced, trying to decipher how Killian had found out, how he had kept it hidden for so long, and how everything had unraveled so quickly.

"I... I can explain," Nathaniel stammered, his voice unsteady. For the first time, the powerful alpha looked vulnerable, his confident mask cracking. "I never wanted to hurt you, Killian. I swear I didn’t. I just—"

"Stop." Killian’s voice was firm, even as the tears streamed down his face. He shook his head, his eyes filled with anguish and betrayal. "Stop trying to make it sound like you didn’t know what you were doing. I don’t know what’s the reason behind your pretentious act as Steve Williams, but I don’t want to know any more! I just want to leave now... so, move. I’m going home..."

Nathaniel ignored the omega’s plea and took a step forward, his hand reaching out, but Killian flinched, taking a step back, his breath shaky.

"I—I trusted you," Killian continued, his voice rising with each word. "I thought... I thought you cared about me, that what we had meant something. But it was all a lie! You’re married! You have a family!" His voice cracked, the pain of those words cutting deeper than anything else.

"I know!" Nathaniel’s voice broke, the rawness of his confession startling Killian. "I know I’ve made mistakes. I know I’ve lied to you, and I know what I’ve done is unforgivable, but Killian, you have to understand—"

"What is there to understand?" Killian interrupted; his voice sharp and full of hurt. "That you thought it was okay to lead me on? That you could just play with my feelings while pretending to be someone else? You could have told me the truth. You could have given me the chance to decide for myself, but instead, you took that away from me!"

Nathaniel’s shoulders slumped, the weight of his guilt pressing down on him. "I didn’t want to lose you," he whispered, his voice so soft it was almost a plea. "I couldn’t bear the thought of you walking away. Killian Arden, you don’t know how much I agonized over these feelings! I tried to walk away, many times! I avoided you, but you kept coming to me, you kept riling me, you kept pulling me to you. I know it’s wrong, but I... this is the first time I felt this way. All my life, my decisions, and my choices...were all planned, and set from the beginning. But then, you came... Killian... hate me as you want, but don’t push me away again..."

"How could you..." say those words? Killian covered his mouth, and the sobs he had been restraining were starting to come out. Is it because of the initial connection between fated mates, that Nathaniel wasn’t able to refuse him? That they kept...getting entangled with each other?

The thing that made Killian’s heart flutter, made him feel like he was special—meeting his fated mate and all—now felt like a joke to him... a painful joke.

"I don’t think I could ever let you go again, Killian," Nathaniel’s voice was honest, and he was hurting as well, but his eyes were darkened, as though he was ready to hide Killian away, so he won’t ever be able to escape his grasp again.

However, Killian’s heart just twisted painfully at those words. A part of him wanted to believe Nathaniel, to give in to the tenderness he still felt, but the betrayal cut too deep. And thinking about how he could be ruining a family... Killian could never.

"You already lost me," Killian whispered, his voice heavy with finality. He wiped the tears from his cheeks, trying to steady his breathing. "The moment you lied; you lost me."

Nathaniel’s eyes glistened with something that looked like desperation. "Don’t say that," he said, stepping closer, his hands trembling at his sides. "I love you, Killian. I never meant for any of this to happen, but I love you. I need you."

Killian’s breath hitched at those words. Love. It sounded so hollow now, so far removed from the truth that had torn them apart.

"You don’t get to say that," Killian choked out. "You don’t get to claim love after everything you’ve done."

Nathaniel fell silent, his hands clenched on his side, his eyes never leaving Killian’s despite those hurtful words. He took a huge leap to finally experience that magical feeling, to be in love, to be with someone he loves, yet the ground he landed on, was slowly breaking apart.

And now he was falling. Killian made him experience love, but he also made him feel how devastating it could be.

After what felt like an eternity, Killian spoke again, his voice quiet but resolute. "I’m leaving. I don’t want to see you again, sir. So, please, assign someone to help you from now on. I’d like to... choose what’s right."

Nathaniel’s face crumpled. Killian’s words were like a blow in his chest. "It’s unfair, Killian. The moment I admitted to myself I love you, I made the wrong choice for my family, but I did what was right for me. Now, you’re doing the same. Choosing what’s right for my family. If being without you, if letting you leave like this, if forgetting you and erasing you in my memory, are what is right...then I don’t mind living in the wrong for the rest of my life."

But Killian’s heart was already closed. He turned on his heel and walked away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty stairwell. Each step felt like a final goodbye... a haunting sound that kept poking Nathaniel’s heart.

It was as though each footstep mocked him—you don’t deserve to be happy, Nathaniel.

He stood there for a long time. The sky darkened and snow kept falling outside. The ringing of his phone sounded distant, and it felt like the background had halted to a stop.

And for the first time, the alpha who could command a room, who could bend the world to his will, felt utterly powerless.

As Killian reached the door, he paused for a brief moment, his hand resting on the handle. He glanced back, his heart torn between the love he had once felt and the betrayal that now consumed him.

But he didn’t say anything. He did the right thing. He couldn’t live with the guilt... so he was finding his peace, even at the cost of his broken heart. They may have been fated, but fate was too late.

And so, without another word, he walked out, leaving Nathaniel behind in the silence.