Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 264 - 22: Meeting between two alphas

Chapter 264: Chapter 22: Meeting between two alphas

Shawn kept looking over Athan’s table. His fellow employee noticed this and teased him, "Is he your boyfriend?"

The question caught him off guard. It took too long for him to answer because he didn’t know what to say. Athan and he, the two of them together, what are they? There was an agreement between their families, but it wasn’t yet official.

Friends? Live-ins?

"Gosh, Shawn, why are you taking too long to answer? If it’s me, I’d claim him as my boyfriend even if he’s not!"

Shawn pursed his lips. Will that be alright? What if Athan had someone he didn’t want to misunderstand? He was thinking that way when he saw Athan check his phone. He stood and went outside to answer the call since the café was too loud inside.

Shawn watched his expression change to many expressions. He wondered if it was someone he didn’t know, and felt bitter that they could evoke different expressions on Athan’s face. He gritted his teeth in the corner, wondering who was the caller.

When he couldn’t bear to ignore it anymore, he excused himself and went outside too.

"I didn’t go to work as well. Yes, I was informed." Athan sounded serious. He paused and listened to the caller, then he burst out angrily, "For the entire weekend?!"

Shawn flinched. Athan’s voice when mad was scary. It is just like what they said—that someone who was too kind turns out to be so scary when they get mad.

"Wait...! Oh, great... he hung up after calling me like that. Does he think I’ll forgive him easily if he acts cute?" Athan grumbled, pocketing his phone with a pout.

"Who’s cute?" Shawn blurted out. It was too late to realize he sounded bitter.

Athan looked back. His eyebrow raised. "Why are you here? Is your work finished?"

Shawn pursed his lips. He wanted to ask again, but would he sound too nosy? "Not yet. But why are you asking? Why are you here anyway?"

Athan grinned, amused. He heard Shawn but he deliberately did not answer to see his reaction. "I want to go on a date on my day off, but you have work, so I’m patiently waiting."

Shawn’s face brightened, though he hid his smile quickly. "Then, you should wait inside the staff room!" he suggested, remembering how many eyes were feasting on him.

Athan furrowed his brows. "Is that okay?" He wanted to see Shawn’s working conditions, so if given the chance, he’d grabbed it.

"Of course! I’ll be done half an hour before Knoa’s end of school. You can wait for me in the staff room, then we can go and pick Knoa together," Shawn happily remarked before tugging Athan to the staff room.

Everyone looked at him with envy as they passed, and Shawn looked at them proudly. He giggled when they all rolled their eyes at him and said something unpleasant, but who cares? He’s going on a date with Athan and Knoa!

Just as they planned, the two picked Knoa from the daycare center and went shopping and watched a movie. Then, they spent the rest of the day playing on an indoor children’s playground.

"Okay, that’s enough for today! Let’s go back home now, Knoa. Your Papa must be worried for you already!" Shawn yelled, calling Knoa.

Athan was then reminded of Knox’s call. "Ah, let him play more. We can eat dinner at a restaurant, then go back home."

"Huh?" Shawn turned to him, baffled. "What about Knox?"

"He called saying that he’s taking care of a sick friend the entire weekend, so Knoa will be with us in the meantime," Athan’s face distorted with displeasure. He just knew it wasn’t just a sick friend, but he had no proof. "I already bought him new clothes and toys. So, I hope he won’t look for his Papa until I track him down."

"Track who down? Knox?" Shawn asked in disbelief.

Athan nodded. "Yes. He disappeared from his bodyguard’s sight, but when I asked him where he was and who he was with, he hung up on me. That brat."

Shawn suddenly recalled the call earlier, and he laughed upon realization. He felt relieved that it was just Knox all along. Then, why did Athan evade his question? He glared at the man watching Knoa and wondered if he was just being teased.

They ate dinner at a restaurant Athan had a reservation beforehand. Then, they went home after Knoa fell asleep. When Athan moved him over to his bed alone, he jolted awake and cried, looking for his father.

"Hush, baby. Your father just went somewhere, he’ll be back tomorrow," Shawn cooed, but Knoa was still sobbing.

Watching this, Athan couldn’t just leave him alone. He moved the kid to the middle and lay next to him. Knoa looked up at him and called out sobbingly, "Uncle..."

"Yes, Knoa. I’m right, here. Tomorrow, let’s visit Loki together." The kid nodded and hugged him. Athan looked at Shawn who remained standing at the other edge of the bed. "Go to sleep."

Shawn nodded. He was about to leave when Knoa called his name and demanded he sleep with them too. Shawn froze. He glanced at Athan awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Athan said nothing and just patted the space next to Knoa.

Shawn carefully went onto the bed, lifting the covers and draping it over the two. Knoa changed position and he hugged Shawn instead, which made Athan frown jokingly. He whispered teasingly, "I want a hug too."

Shawn rolled his eyes, but he was blushing. He hugged Knoa back, ignored Athan, and just went to sleep. When he felt something draped over his arm, he knew Athan wrapped his arm around them, but he didn’t complain. Instead, his chest surprisingly swelled with warmth, and he fell asleep soundly.

The next morning, Athan’s plan to visit the Horace Mansion was interrupted when he received a call from Knox’s bodyguard, reporting that he found him in the hospital with someone. Athan’s worry and curiosity got the better of him. He canceled his plans with Knoa and Shawn and went to meet Knox instead.

He already had a hunch about who he was meeting with, and maybe the reason that he was just going to the hospital was to get a check-up, but after hearing the name of his younger brother’s doctor, his desire to go doubled.

"I’ll be back before lunch. Stay at home." He kissed Knoa’s forehead and planted a quick one on Shawn’s cheek, then he waved goodbye.

He arrived not long after. The mornings in the hospital were too busy and loud, but his destination was the medical arts, where specialized clinics were. After asking for the right floor and room number at the reception desk, he headed straight to the place.

Unfortunately, Knox and his ’sick friend’ was already gone.

"Athan Horace."

Athan glanced at the doctor seated behind the desk. He was suddenly reminded of what Shawn said about his face, and his mood soured. Although it was true that the features of the doctor were blinding, it wasn’t one that everyone would fall for.

He didn’t, so he was certain.

Athan answered with the same tone and intensity. "Kayden Montgomery."

Kayden looked at him beyond the glasses he wore. He slowly took it off, as though he knew that Athan came not only to catch his younger brother but to talk to him personally too. "I think we should go somewhere to talk privately."

Athan agreed. "Indeed."