Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 269 - 27: Promise fulfilled

Chapter 269: Chapter 27: Promise fulfilled

"This happened because you trusted a family closely related to that cruel person!"

Shawn even lowered his head more after recalling Chairman Horace’s words. He couldn’t believe that something like this would happen. The warnings Athan always gave him were now biting him back.

"Lift your head, Shawn."

Shawn jolted. He reluctantly lifted his head and found Athan looking down at him. He didn’t even hear him approached. He must have been too preoccupied with the consequences of his actions.

Athan’s jaw clenched, seeing Shawn’s tired and anxious face. "You’re not at fault. You only helped us find Knox. You did the right thing, Shawn. It was those bastards who should be in jail."

The alpha’s voice was thick with anger and concern. Shawn forced a smile, so as not to burden Athan. But Athan only frowned at that fake expression. He pulled Shawn and embraced him.

"I promise I’d do everything to get you out of this. You won’t go to jail. I promise you that," Athan whispered. "Trust me."

Shawn nodded in return. All he could do right now was put his trust in Athan and behave properly. The events drained his energy. But there was still one person he needed to talk to. He waited outside the chairman’s office until his uncle stepped out.

"Uncle Steve... can we talk?" Shawn asked as soon as he saw his uncle.

Steve nodded without looking at him. He bowed at Athan and spoke, "Young master, I will drive Shawn home. You can go back first."

"No. We’ll go home together," Athan replied. "Talk as long as you need. I’ll be waiting." He added, giving Shawn a worried look before leaving the two alone.

Steve sighed. He faced his nephew whose visage was filled with guilt and shame. He began, "I know what you’re going to say, Shawn. Don’t worry, this won’t reach your parents’ ears."

"...thank you, uncle." He closed his eyes and sighed in relief.

Steve continued, "And don’t worry about this. I won’t surrender you to the police."

The old man’s voice was as indifferent as before, yet it somehow lifted the heaviness in Shawn’s chest. He smiled a bit, showed his uncle that he wouldn’t worry too much, then excused himself. He headed to where Athan was, and when Athan saw him, he looked a bit surprised and asked.

"You finished?"

Shawn nodded.

"That’s fast. Should we go home then?" Athan wrapped him in his own coat.

It was evening already, and the breeze was getting colder since fall was approaching. He hugged himself, pulling the lapels of the coat tighter around him. Athan quickly opened the door for him, and he got in.

The drive was silent. Shawn was just looking out the window, while Athan considerately gave him space to think. He felt guilty since it would not have happened if he hadn’t brought Shawn to the MSA, so he was determined to find a way and catch the one who outed Shawn.

"You should rest for now. I’ll whip something to eat, and just wake you up once it’s ready," Athan said after they entered his apartment.

Shawn gave Athan a tired look. "I don’t have an appetite, Athan. I’ll just rest." He left without hearing Athan’s reply. He lay on his bed without showering. He was too tired to even move like he entered a depressed state.

His situation took a toll on him, but another thing was making him dejected and saddened like that. It was because this happened just when he was having fun working in the MSA. Just when he built a friendly relationship with Kayden, he was slapped by the truth that someone under them made him feel scared and miserable.

He buried his face on the pillow and tried to forget everything that happened even just for a bit. His throat craved alcohol, his usual escape to forget, but he was too lazy to grab some beer. After a long time of trying to sleep, his head only throbbed from forcing it.

There was a knock on the door, but Shawn did not answer. He thought that Athan would go away if he pretended to sleep, but Athan still entered. Shawn closed his eyes tightly and listened to the approaching footsteps.

Athan’s footsteps were light and careful. He sensed his presence in front of him, bent down, and soon a warm touch of his hand was felt in his cheek. Athan brushed away the locks that fell on his face, pulled the sheets to cover his body, then slowly, planted a soft kiss on his exposed cheek.

He then whispered, "Good night."

Shawn remained pretending until the door clicked and closed. He let out a sigh he’d been holding back. He touched his cheek, still feeling the warmth from Athan’s hand and lips. He couldn’t sleep before because of the case filed against him, now he couldn’t move because of Athan’s actions.

He was lost in deep thought. They were living together, but their relationship was still vague. Like what they had was just a trial run. A trial run that Shawn was supposed to manipulate the result since he wanted the engagement off.

Athan said that if he wanted, they could pretend, and make their families believe that they weren’t suited to each other. But now... those plans were drifted away with the waves.

He wasn’t acting like a spoiled brat turning Athan off. And Athan... didn’t feel like pretending. Sure, they used to be friends, but... do friends...

Does Athan kiss his friends on the cheek and whisper softly in their ears like that? Shawn pondered. A small bud of hope sprouted within him, but then he remembered that Athan never lost his composure around him.

Athan never covered him in his scent. Even his apartment, which was supposed to be filled with his pheromones, was unscented. Shawn always wondered what his pheromones would smell like, but Athan never let anyone smell them.

Anyone? Or maybe just him?

Shawn’s mood dampened. He shouldn’t feel down about it since Athan was probably just being careful. They were both dominants and if one of them just lost control, it could lead to something they might regret.

And the way they were treating each other was different from what they planned. Both of them forgot to act. But whatever was between them, Shawn preferred it.

He was moved when Athan comforted him; when Athan listened to his drunken rambling, he was embarrassed, but he felt closer to him; when Athan showed him more of his expressions he didn’t show to anyone, he felt special; when Athan returned home and shouted that he was back, he felt incredibly satisfied and happy.

Those little things seemed to be catching up to him. He covered his face when he admitted to himself it. He stared blankly at the ceiling, wondering what he should do until his thoughts were interrupted by his ringtone.

Shawn grabbed his phone and saw Kayden’s name on the screen. He hesitated to answer. He was afraid that he’d blame the doctor, even though he knew it wasn’t his fault. In the end, he answered.

"Kayden..." Shawn’s voice came out strained, heavy with exhaustion.

"Shawn," Kayden’s voice was soft and full of concern. "I heard you left work in a hurry. Is everything alright?"

Shawn’s throat tightened. "How did you...?"

"Kayla mentioned it," Kayden replied gently. "Are you okay? You sound... tired."

Shawn paused, feeling a lump in his throat. "I... there’s something I want to ask you."

"What is it? You can ask me anything. I’ll always give you an answer," Kayden said, his tone a bit too enthusiastic. He was happy that Shawn was trying to know more about him. However, what Shawn asked was completely unexpected.

"What would happen if someone in your sister’s company... leaked confidential information?"

Kayden froze. The atmosphere changed. "Why... are you asking that?"

"You said you’d answer anything I ask," Shawn said bitterly.

"... Shawn, did something happen?" Kayden’s previous cheeriness had dissolved, replaced with an edge of worry.

Shawn’s grip on the phone tightened. He felt a wave of anger, not at Kayden, but at the situation itself and how helpless he felt. He hesitated, but Kayden probed and he sounded desperate. "Your uncle filed a case against me—

"What?"

"—and someone in the MSA provided him the evidence of what I did inside. Now, he was blackmailing the chairman and... and... I feel so much anger, but I don’t know who to direct it towards. I... shouldn’t have trusted your people."

"Shawn—

"I’m tired now. I’m hanging up," Shawn declared and ended the call. He placed it back on his bedside table and curled in bed. His gaze landed on the door where he noticed something moved outside, but he didn’t hear anything at all.

He went to sleep after that.

The next morning, only a note pasted on the table next to breakfast was there, and no Athan. The note said that he was going to talk with their family lawyer. Nothing else. Shawn frowned. It sounded cold, but he knew Athan was just like that.

However, Athan never went home until the news about Knox’s kidnapper broke, and nothing about Chairman Del Valle. A text message came in, from his uncle, saying that the case against him was withdrawn.