Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 253 - 11: Another side of him

Chapter 253: Chapter 11: Another side of him

"Are you visiting Shawn’s father?"

"Yup, see you tomorrow," Athan replied to Knox and headed out of the office. Honestly, he already heard from Steve that his brother was now in stable condition and that it would be fine if he didn’t visit since he was busy organizing the upcoming launch of his company.

But when he heard that only Shawn was left there, he finished his work early and decided to accompany him. He bought dinner on the way—pizza and chicken—Shawn’s favorites. He arrived not long after.

Athan frowned when he saw a nurse trying to wake up the poor omega. "Is there something you need?"

The female nurse looked back, guarded, raised her eyebrow at Athan, and was going to ignore him if he hadn’t spoken. "I’m with him. And the patient is my uncle. Don’t wake him up, he’s tired. Just tell me what you need."

"Ah... then, sir, we’re going to move the patient to the private ward now. So, I’m just concerned that he’ll be left here alone," the female nurse politely replied.

"I see. It’s fine. I’ll take him," Athan thanked the nurse before she left. He then approached Shawn and crouched on the floor, leveling his face on the worn-out omega. His eyebrows were furrowed, as though he was having a nightmare, and Athan couldn’t help but touch them.

As if on cue, they relaxed, and Athan smiled. His gaze moved to the blanket and the pillow. They were the same ones in a hospital bed, but new ones. Did Shawn get them to use? When the nurses began transferring Stuart to the private room, Athan stood and lifted Shawn.

However, he paused when he smelled a lingering scent on him. It was the scent of sandalwood, faint but undeniable. It was glued on the pillow and the blanket, so he left them on the bench.

He dropped his gaze to the sleeping Shawn in his arms and wondered where he got that scent, or who gave those things to him, but he didn’t dwell on it deeply. Perhaps it was just someone concerned. However, accepting something filled with their pheromones was dangerous. Shawn would have known.

It certainly got on Athan’s nerves, and his mood changed. Once they entered the room, he lay Shawn down on the couch and checked on Stuart’s face for a bit. There were no spare pillows and blankets. He walked to the cabinet and checked for some, but he found none.

He took his coat off and draped it over Shawn’s body, then he used his lap as Shawn’s pillow. The door opened, and a female alpha stomped her way, when she noticed Athan and Shawn, she froze and looked surprised.

"You are?" Athan’s voice echoed. He was displeased at the way she entered since Shawn flinched from his sleep and almost woke up if he hadn’t patted his shoulder. "Move quietly. Someone’s sleeping."

"A...ah... uhm, I apologize... young master."

Athan furrowed his brows. The female alpha called him that way, which means she was probably someone who knew his family. He studied the girl who looked flustered by the way he stared, and soon realized who she was.

She must be a member of Shawn’s family, Athan thought. He wasn’t acquainted with them all. "You are Shawn’s sister?"

The female alpha nodded. "Yes, young master Athan. My name is Shana, his younger sister."

"I see. Dropped the ’young master’ please," Athan replied. Shana looked like she was going to protest, so Athan firmly said, "I insist."

Shana fidgeted on her spot. She didn’t know what to do but her eyes kept going back on Shawn sleeping on Athan’s lap. She suddenly felt conscious of her appearance standing in front of the alpha.

"Ah... how should I call you then?" Shana asked, trying to prolong their conversation. "Can I call you by just your name?"

Athan raised his brow. For some reason, he didn’t like Shana’s attitude. "No."

Shana looked disheartened. Athan wondered if he was too harsh and judgmental. He felt Shawn stirred, and his eyes half-opened. Athan patted his arm like he was putting a kid to sleep. Then, he briefly glanced at Shana and said, "Sir Athan would be fine."

Shana’s face brightened. She took a seat next to the couch and leaned in with a smile that radiated more than casual interest.

"So, Sir Athan," Shana cooed, with a pointed emphasis on the title. "I heard from an uncle that you’re very busy, organizing your company’s summer collection launch, and managing other projects as well. I’m a big fan of the brand, Sir Athan! But how do you manage to do it all and stay so focused?" She gave a quick, dramatic sigh, and her eyes sparkled.

Shana never paid attention to the Horaces before, because she believed that her family was exaggerating. What’s with loyalty and continuing their service? They weren’t in the olden times anymore! She couldn’t understand why they were insistent on continuing that legacy in the modern world, but now, meeting Athan and standing in his commanding presence made her speechless.

She suddenly wanted to be closer, so she continued. "I also heard that your brand was hiring models. Is it possible to apply even without experience but with just a perfect body? I know someone!" Of course, she was talking about herself.

Athan’s jaw tightened slightly. He glanced down at Shawn to make sure he was still asleep, then looked back at her with a measured, unamused look. "It depends. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but as I said, your brother is resting. Let’s keep it down."

"Oh, right! It’s just rare to actually get to talk to someone with your background, Sir Athan. I feel like we could chat for hours! You wouldn’t mind, right?" Shana looked at Athan expectantly.

Athan’s brow furrowed. His patience was running thin, but he couldn’t just ask her to leave when the patient was her father. "Actually, I would," he said, his tone edged with a rare sharpness. "Shawn needs quiet."

The female alpha pursed her lips in a pout but then spotted the food on the table. "Oh! Pizza and chicken?" she exclaimed, her voice a bit too bright and loud again. "Looks amazing. You don’t mind if I grab some, right? It’s been such a long day for me too!"

Athan’s eyes flicked to the food and back to her, his reluctance clear. "Actually, that’s for Shawn," he began, but Shana’s eager look made him pause. She was already reaching for a slice, her fingers hovering over it with an expectant grin.

Suppressing a sigh, Athan gave a tight nod. "Fine, but please, eat quietly."

Shana gave a thumbs up and started eating while stealing glances at Athan and drilling holes in her sleeping brother. In her head, she couldn’t understand why Shawn was so reluctant to marry him. If he doesn’t want to, then I should volunteer! There’s no issue between alphas anyway, right? Even the chairman and his wife are both alphas.

The entire conversation was overheard by Shawn, as he was already awoken by his sister’s loud voice. He just remained still, because he was curious about how Athan normally talked with others. He was surprised but also agreed with what his uncle said.

He couldn’t help but smile, hearing him shoot his sister’s advances down. He was glad and satisfied, and he wondered why.