Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 251 - 9: His what?

Chapter 251: Chapter 9: His what?

"Hey, are you okay?"

Shawn heard Knox ask, but his head was only filled with self-reproach. "I-It’s my fault..." he mumbled in a daze.

Knox rubbed his back and said nothing. His family was in the waiting lounge outside the ICU, but he was there, in the hallway near the nurse’s station, slumped on the chair with his hands on his face. He tried to follow his family, but his sister blocked him and blamed everything on him.

He was speechless. He couldn’t refute his sister’s claims.

After a few minutes, he heard Knox again. "Stay here with Uncle Shun. I’ll get him some drinks, hm?"

"Okay. Papa... is Uncle Shun okay?" Knoa asked.

Shawn straightened his back before Knox could answer. He wiped the tears away and forced a smile. "I’m fine, baby. Uncle Shun is just sad that he can’t see his father."

Knoa then asked innocently, "Why? Uncle Shun is a good boy...like Knoa. Right, Papa? Uncle Shun’s Papa wants to see him too, right?"

"I’m sure."

Shawn let out a bitter laugh and avoided their gazes. He stared at his palms and replied with a shaky voice, "I’m not a good boy, Knoa. I don’t listen to him. Even when they kept calling me to go back home, I ignored them because I knew they’d just keep pestering me to do something I don’t want to do." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "This happened because I put him into so much stress and anger. If only... if I just..."

He regretted things and was saddened that something bad had to happen to wake him up from his delusions.

Tiny sobs broke his self-blaming. His agony temporarily dissipated after finding the little kid brimming with tears. "Wh... woah...! Little buddy, why are you suddenly crying?!" he panicked.

Knox picked up his son and asked what was wrong. When the Knoa said that he was sad because his Uncle Shun was hurting, Shawn’s eyes flooded with tears again. He was trying to be brave, restraining himself from crying all his fears, frustrations, regrets, and grievances, and acting all tough, but with Knoa crying for him, he finally broke down.

The two of them cried together, while Knox was rubbing both their backs simultaneously to comfort them.

After several minutes of drama, Shawn finally stopped sobbing. He fanned himself and dried his tears. He ruffled Knoa’s head and Knox hushed him up, before giving him to Shawn. "I’ll go and buy water."

"Geez, Knoa, we’re both crybabies, aren’t we?" Shawn commented, laughing lightly at the kid’s puffy eyes and reddened nose. He was sure he looked the same. Crying helped him think clearly. Now, he was planning on how to see and talk with his family. He buried his face on Knoa’s fluffy hair, feeling grateful that he had him by his side.

Knox ruffled Shawn’s head before walking to where the nearest convenience store was.

Shawn and Knoa were left alone, both were trying to lift each other’s mood. Knoa’s giggles somehow lightened his heavy heart, and he calmed down already. However, he paused when at the corner of his eyes, he saw a figure standing not so far from them.

Shawn stiffened after recognizing the guy. It was the doctor who approached him before. What was his name again? Doctor... Kayden? Shawn thought with furrowed brows.

Kayden remained on his spot, frozen and shocked. Tiny ripples of mixed emotions invaded his bluish orbs, and his mouth was agape. Shawn tilted his head in confusion. Why was he looking at me like he’d seen a ghost?

Shawn flinched when Kayden rushed to them with serious and darkened eyes. Now, he looks like he’ll attack us! Shawn panicked, feeling scared by the hurried footsteps and the unsmiling expression.

The doctor stomped his way to them with a terrifying look on his face, so, instinctively, Shawn stood and went the opposite way. Why the hell am I running?! He wondered, and then he remembered what the doctor said before. Is he mad because I left?

Knoa looked confused and agitated by his actions, so he tried to explain, but before he could do it, a shadow loomed over them already, stealing both of their attention.

Kayden threw his arms over them and pulled them into a big hug. Shawn was flabbergasted, meanwhile, Knoa got squeezed in between them and glared at the man cladded in white clothes as he hugged his Uncle Shun.

"Wha... hey! What the hell, man?! Why are you suddenly hugging me?! Get away! You’re squeezing the baby!" Shawn protested after his senses came back to him.

However, Kayden only tightened his embrace while giving room for the kid to breathe. He dipped his head between the omega and the kid and pulled them closer. Then, he mumbled accusingly, "Why do you keep disappearing? I searched the whole hospital when I failed to see you in the same spot I told you to stay. Do you intend to hide from me forever? What wrong did I do? I was hoping to talk to you once you woke up, but you disappeared just like that. Did you regret it?"

Shawn’s astonishment went beyond the word itself. His face was plastered with shock and bewilderment, and he couldn’t entirely comprehend the meaning behind the doctor’s words. He blinked, twice, and again, and then he slowly peeked at Knoa across Kayden’s shoulders.

"Papa?" Out of a sudden, Knoa asked, looking for his father. He wriggled his arms and tried to push the stranger away.

Kayden pulled back a little and stared at Knoa with hopeful and teary eyes. He then looked at Shawn accusingly, hurt and regretful. "Do you even know who the father of this child is?"

Shawn grimaced. "I don’t know. Why should I know about that when I—

"When you were in heat when it happened and you don’t even care whose seeds you sought and whose body you slept with?"

Shawn’s jaw fell on the floor. Knoa titled his head and looked at them with wide eyes. He quickly regained his composure and shouted, "Watch your language! There’s a kid with us!"

The doctor gritted his teeth and declared, "Yes. My kid."

Shawn almost fainted at the ridiculousness of their conversation. He looked at the doctor with worry, suspicion, wary, and pity. Did he hit his head? Is he really Knoa’s father? Or maybe he’s actually a mentally disabled patient who stole and wore his doctor’s gown? Oh, gosh, I pity him. Knox, where are you now? I’m scared...

"If you don’t remember what happened, I’ll make you, Shawn Williams! Stop running away. I will take responsibility for you and our child!"

"..."

"I won’t let him grow up without a father. I will do—

"Ah! Stop! Stop! I don’t get the f*ck you’re saying! What heat?! I haven’t been in heat for two months now! What kid? My kid, you said? Dude! Don’t go claiming someone’s kid as you please! What the hell are you even saying?! I don’t get you at all!" Shawn huffed after yelling.

Is he insane? What part of the Knoa resembles him and me? We’re both blondes!

"Don’t come near us! I’ll call security!" Shawn took a few steps back and turned away. However, he halted after the words the doctor stated registered in his head.

"Four years ago, at the Miri Hotel, you were there. You slept with me. Do you remember now?"

Shawn froze. His mind raced to the events of the past. Miri Hotel. It’s the place where his usual place to unwind—The Hideout, is located. He only slept with someone once in that place, and it was when he got drunk and bolder, seducing someone he found attractive.

Shawn stared at the guy in front of him. It was four years ago, and he suddenly recalled bits of what happened back then.

’Your name... tell me, so I can moan it...’ Shawn’s face reddened after recalling his own voice. He wished for the floor to open and swallow him.