Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 276 - 34: Honey-scented flowers (2)

Chapter 276: Chapter 34: Honey-scented flowers (2)

A week had passed, and Shawn was now in great distress. He stared at the indoor bin by the kitchen, filled with roses. He wouldn’t have that problem if he had thrown them outside, but foolishly enough, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon Athan’s flowers in the street.

"Hi, Knox," Shawn said into the phone. After racking his brain, something came up in his head, so he called Knox to confirm something, hopefully. "I just wanted to ask if..."

Knox patiently waited on the other side.

Shawn exhaled nervously and continued, "Has Athan already hired a secretary?"

"Oh. Do you want to apply, Shawn?"

"Huh? No, no. I was just asking."

"Hm. He already did."

"Ah..." Shawn pursed his lips. He couldn’t bring himself to ask about the new secretary. Fortunately, Knox informed him. Perhaps, he sensed what was bothering him.

"He hired a male beta, Shawn. Do you want me to send you a photo of—"

"What? No! There’s no need. I get it. It’s fine," Shawn replied, flustered. He bit his lower lip. Knox’s answer only made it worse. He was hoping the woman he saw with Athan before was just his newly hired secretary.

But who was he trying to fool? A secretary wouldn’t dare to cling to her boss’s arms. Not to mention, the girl looked expensive and sophisticated. But there was only one thing Shawn was certain: those flowers Athan sent to him were picked, or maybe arranged, by that woman.

"Shawn."

He blinked after hearing Knox’s voice again. He cleared his throat and answered, "Yeah?"

"There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you before, but it always slipped my mind because of all the things that keep happening..."

Knox’s voice was careful, which only relived the nervousness within him. He swallowed and asked, "What is it, Knox?"

"Kayden asked me about you and Athan before, and back then, I...assured him that you and Athan had no feelings for each other. Thinking back on it, I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know what’s going on between the three of you, but...if what I said somehow created a misunderstanding—"

"There isn’t a misunderstanding, Knox. I already know about it, and honestly, when you said that, it was true that Athan and I had not developed feelings for each other yet. Don’t worry."

Shawn heard a relieved sigh. He tilted his head down and smiled sadly.

"Is that so? I thought I was wrong after watching you and my brother."

"You...you’re not wrong..." Shawn mumbled quietly. Athan finally met his fated mate, as his father said. That was why he canceled the engagement.

After that, Knox ended the call. Then, his gaze moved back to the bin, and he finally found the courage to throw them away. He grabbed all the bins and went to the door.

Throwing out those flowers means finally letting go of his hopes.

At the same time, his doorbell rang. He opened the door, frowned after another bouquet of flowers was shoved in his face, bigger than the other ones this time.

"I won’t accept it. So, next time, just drop in on the bin outside, please."

He grimaced after smelling those honey-scented pheromones again. He shoved the flowers back to the delivery guy, but when he noticed that the man wasn’t wearing the usual uniform, his eyes shifted behind the bunch of flowers.

His mouth fell open, and his eyes shook. He shakily murmured, "Athan..."

Athan’s eyes were full of hurt. His pain wasn’t hidden anymore. He stared at Shawn, devastated. Then, his eyes moved down to the bin Shawn was carrying. His face distorted even more.

He took a shaky breath and nodded, "I’ll do it."

Without explaining what, Athan bent down and took the bin from Shawn. Then, he walked away, clutching the trash bin in his arm, which held the fresh roses he bought himself, while his other free hand cupped his entire face as he walked.

His world was shattered. His hand slid to his mouth, clasping it tight as if not wanting a sob to escape. Because of his busy schedule while helping his father track down Chairman Del Valle’s illegal business, he couldn’t find time to meet Shawn, so he kept sending him flowers he picked himself.

He thought that, if he slowly showed his feelings to him, Shawn might give him a chance. He was wishfully thinking that he still hadn’t given his heart to Kayden, so he was taking advantage, without directly pressuring him.

Instead of taking the elevator, his feet brought him to the emergency exit stairs. As soon as he was inside that confined space, a single tear he failed to hold back fell on his cheek slowly.

It trickled just as his heart bled. A sob finally escaped his lips as he stepped down the stairs. The petals of old roses he carried inside the bin were scattered on the floor as he walked, like he was a flower girl preparing the aisle with flowers.

It looked romantic, but the red petals only mirrored his bleeding heart. Their disorderly positions were similar to the pieces of his world, shattered and broken. But instead of an exuberant bride walking down on it, a miserable, broken-hearted, regretful man was there.

Unable to continue anymore, Athan finally broke down. He sat on the first step after the landing, set aside the flowers he carried, and covered his face with both of his hands.

That single tear was followed by another, until it turned just like raindrops in torrential rain. His palms were soaked in an instant.

All he could do was blame himself. It was all his fault. He dawdled. He waited for years, made a promise he didn’t act on, and just watched Shawn be whisked away by another.

He had no right to complain or force his unfolding feelings on Shawn.

"Hah!" Athan looked up, sighing loudly, his hands on his face like he was praying. Then, his gaze landed on the roses on his side again, however, he also noticed the shadow next to them. Looking up, he found Shawn standing behind him.

Athan did not move. His body just turned. He rubbed his eyes, narrowing at the figure as if confirming it was really Shawn in the flesh or he was just hallucinating.

Then, once Athan heard that soft, pain-filled voice, he was certain it was real.

Shawn was real. Athan stood slowly, not minding the mess he was, not embarrassed by his wet cheeks, reddened eyes, and disorderly state. He took a step up and stood just by the edge of the landing, a meter away from Shawn, who stood midway up the stairs, staring directly at him, wide-eyed, confused, hurting, yet hoping.