Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 273 - 31: Who should it be?

Chapter 273: Chapter 31: Who should it be?

He avoided Athan at all costs after that. He couldn’t face the turmoil in his heart, nor could he bear the weight of the unanswered questions that Athan left him with. Moving out of their shared apartment felt like the only option to create distance, both physically and emotionally.

He turned to look at the quiet place one more time.

"This is for the better." Shawn convinced himself. He left a simple note, instead of calling or texting the alpha. Finally, he turned away and walked down the hallway, pulling his luggage.

---

Knock! Knock!

Franz rose from the bed after hearing that knock. He grumbled as he walked to the door, "Who could be knocking on my door at this hour? Tsk. Can’t they save it for tomorrow?"

He pulled the door open, and a sad-looking omega with an apologetic smile appeared before him.

"...what are you doing here in this hour?" Franz asked. His annoyance was replaced with worry after seeing the suitcase beside Shawn. "Did you run away from home again?"

"...no. I just... decided to move out, so..."

Franz paused. He suddenly remembered Knox telling him that Shawn was living with his alpha brother already. He looked at Shawn with obvious curiosity in his eyes, but he stopped himself from asking. Instead, he moved out of the way and invited the omega.

"You’re lucky my boyfriend’s not here tonight. I should call him to say you’ll stay here in the meantime," Franz said.

Shawn thanked the beta and sat on the couch. "I’m only going to stay for tonight. I’ll look for a place tomorrow."

Franz nodded. "Why didn’t you go to Knox?"

Shawn fell silent for a minute. After some time, he mumbled, "I feel ashamed. Besides, Athan would probably..." his words trailed after realizing what he said. Looking up, he saw Franz pretending like he heard nothing. He sighed. He wanted to say something, to at least unload what was making his chest heavy, but... he did not want to burden Franz with his problems, so he shook his head in the end. He just said, "I’m not ready to face him yet."

Franz sighed and hugged the omega without saying anything.

---

The unit felt so cold and empty that morning Athan arrived. The usual smell of pancake syrup filling the air was gone, and so was the lingering intoxicating scent of Shawn. He moved to the bed and wearily sat on it.

The small note he found a few days ago was still on his bedside table, untouched. That pink Post-it note was a sign that Shawn finally sorted out his feelings.

Athan bit his lip. He had it coming. He knew it was all himself to blame. Just when he cut off what had been tying them into this complicated relationship, to start anew, Shawn had left. Those years of pining for him ended up in nothing.

Waiting doesn’t do anything.

If he had moved forward, selfishly taken Shawn away despite his strong will to stand on his own, to find himself, would the result have been different?

Athan’s thoughts were interrupted when he received a call from home. He sprung on his seat after hearing the news. Knoa’s father was revealed, and now their father was furious and asking to meet them.

He set aside his thoughts about Shawn but also paused after realizing what he had done. He palmed himself in frustration. He was really the only one to blame. He kept thinking that he gave Shawn his freedom to choose, his freedom to do what he wants in life, but in all those years, the reason he just waited, wasn’t because of that, but because he never saw him as his first priority.

He was always tied to his family.

Athan just realized he was no different from his father.

---

After the news broke about Knox and Azrael’s affair, Chairman Nathaniel had been turning the former away and refusing to acknowledge their family.

Shawn sighed as he tapped Knoa in the back. The three-year-old kid had just fallen asleep waiting for his father to arrive. He found a place to stay the day after he stayed at Franz’s, but only a week later, there he was, staying at Knox’s again.

Or was it Azrael’s? Shawn wondered.

"Mm..."

The little kid grunted. Shawn decided to lay him on his bed, then he began cleaning the mess they made earlier while playing. He was in the middle of cutting vegetables for dinner when the doorbell rang.

"If you’re looking for Knox, he isn’t here," Shawn said as soon as he opened the door. The last person he wanted to see after Athan, was this guy.

Kayden smiled like he didn’t notice his unwelcoming tone. "I came here to check on my nephew. Azrael’s request."

Shawn frowned after hearing that. "If he’s sending you, then why did I have to be here?"

"Maybe because he doesn’t trust you." Kayden invited himself in. Shawn instinctively moved away from the door, letting the guy in despite his reluctance. "Your family is very loyal to the chairman so he couldn’t help but think that you might bring Knoa to them, to separate him from his family."

"...I’m not that cruel."

"But you will think twice if you receive an order, won’t you?"

Shawn couldn’t answer. Kayden ruffled his head after seeing his troubled expression. He went to the kitchen after seeing the mess on the table. "Are you making a salad?"

Shawn followed. "No...what makes you think that?"

"The cuts are too small. Let’s see...ah, you’re cooking chicken curry. Is the kid asleep?" Kayden began tying the apron to himself.

Shawn nodded as he approached the alpha. "What are you doing?"

"I’m helping you. You don’t seem to know how to cook," Kayden replied with a smirk. Shawn’s eye twitched. "Also, you’ve been taking care of Knoa since this afternoon, right? Leave the dinner preparation to me and just rest."

"I’m not that tired..."

"Oh? Then, how about cooking rice? Rice is a must-have if you’re having curry," Kayden suggested. Shawn contemplated for a minute, making Kayden think that he was not a fan of rice. He was about to take it back when Shawn nodded and started preparing it.

Watching the omega silently wash the rice on the sink, with his back on him, Kayden couldn’t help but think, "We look like newlyweds cooking a meal together, aren’t we?"

Shawn paused. He was trying his best not to express his nervousness around Kayden, so he answered without turning back. "No, we don’t."

A soft chuckle came from the alpha. "Right. It shouldn’t be me, I suppose."

Kayden expected an answer, but there was only silence. When he turned to look, he saw the omega biting frozen, while the water ran continuously, overflowing the bowl. Kayden immediately turned off the faucet. "Hey, you lost half of the rice there."

Shawn snapped from his dazed state. "Ah...I... I’ll go add another—

"I’ll take it from here." Kayden snatched the bowl and pushed the omega away. Shawn insisted, but Kayden gave him a serious look. In the end, Shawn walked away, while Kayden followed him with his gaze.