Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 280 - 38: End of his love

Chapter 280: Chapter 38: End of his love

The MSA building stood tall and imposing against the cloudy sky, its glass exterior gleaming despite the muted sunlight. Shawn stood on the sidewalk, hands stuffed into his pockets, staring up at it with feelings of nostalgia and hesitation.

After contemplating whether to meet Kayden or not, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to talk to him. But what he didn’t expect was the meeting place. He hadn’t set foot in this building for a long time.

The memories here weren’t just linked to his time working with his dream team, but also the feelings Kayden made him feel.

Coming here, without telling Athan, made his chest feel tight. It wasn’t betrayal. He just... needed to close an old Chapter. To clear the air. To move forward without unfinished business shadowing his steps.

Drawing a deep breath, Shawn finally entered. He headed straight to the receptionist desk and stated his business. The female receptionist, already briefed by his arrival, asked her colleague.

"Please, escort Mr. Williams to the President’s office."

The male employee nodded and politely guided Shawn to the elevator. Shawn followed silently. Not long after, they arrived at the double doors of Kayla’s office. The secretary announced their arrival through the intercom.

"Let him in."

The secretary opened the door for Shawn. He stepped inside, a bit nervous. He was expecting to see Kayden inside, so he prepared his heart in advance, but to his relief, only Kayla was present.

"It’s been a while, Shawn. How have you been?" Kayla greeted him, motioning for him to sit on the sofa. She stood from her chair behind her desk and walked to Shawn.

"I’m doing well, ma’am."

"Looks like you are," Kayla grinned. "You look a bit nervous, but you’re glowing." She sat opposite Shawn, amused at the blush creeping on the omega’s face. "Right. Kayden caught up with something at the moment. But he’ll be here shortly."

Shawn swallowed. "I see... Um, do you know why Kayden asked me to meet him here?"

Kayla gave him a confused look. "He didn’t tell you?"

Shawn shook his head.

"Then, why did you—" Kayla’s voice trailed off when she understood the reason. Shawn must have wanted to see his brother, so he went even without knowing what the meeting was for. A teasing smile appeared on her face. "Oh, well. Let’s discuss it once Kayden arrives. For now, let’s talk about something else."

Shawn gulped. Kayla and Kayden had already sent their apology after what happened before, so when Kayla looked at him like she wanted to recruit him again, he panicked. A refusal speech was already forming in his head, but to his surprise, Kayla just asked him about random things.

The door opened after several minutes. Shawn turned, and there was Kayden.

Kayden’s hair was slightly messy, his shirt rumpled at the edges, and the long sleeves were folded up to the elbow. His usual calm, steady aura was there, but under it, Shawn could see exhaustion. Lines of worry around his eyes and heaviness in his steps. He walked as if he carried tons of problems on his shoulders.

Still, when Kayden spotted him, his entire face lit up with a genuine, almost boyish smile.

"Shawn," Kayden breathed out, like just saying his name eased some hidden burden. "Hi."

"H-Hello..." Shawn replied, his throat tightening.

Kayden crossed the room and dropped into the seat next to Shawn, close enough that Shawn could feel the faint brush of his sleeve. The familiar, serene, and comforting scent of sandalwood—Kayden’s pheromones, wafted on his nose.

Kayden turned to him, still sporting that delighted smile, while staring at him intently, as if Kayla wasn’t in the room. Shawn tried to smile back, but it barely reached his eyes. His throat tightened painfully.

Because while Kayden was smiling, while he was clearly happy to see him... Shawn knew he was about to tear that smile apart.

Kayla had to clear her throat to gain Shawn and Kayden’s attention. There was a mischievous smile on her face, but she stopped teasing and proceeded to discuss what Shawn had come for.

It was about the ongoing fight between Horace and Del Valle. Shawn was shocked to hear that the Montgomery was taking Horace’s side.

They are willing to help with the retrieval of the ledger owned by Chairman Del Valle, and because they had to move as discreetly and meticulously as possible, using the Montgomery’s entire resources wasn’t a good idea, as it might alarm the chairman, and there might be another rat in the team.

Therefore, Kayden requested Shawn’s help.

After hearing that, Shawn understood why Athan had to leave in a hurry. If this could help Athan, then he was willing to lend his skills and help Kayden and Kayla.

"Thank you. You’ll be a big help in this operation, Shawn," Kayla shook his hand enthusiastically. "Alright. For now, just wait for our call. Kayden, you should take him home. After all, you’re the reason he came here for."

Kayla giggled.

Shawn felt a huge lump in his throat. He gathered his courage, before nodding at Kayla as goodbye, and turning to Kayden with a forced smile, "Will that be okay? I...wanted to speak to you, if you’re not so busy."

- - - - -

Silence reigned inside the car at first. Kayden kept one hand on the wheel, while the other rested loosely on the gearshift. Only the hum of the engine was the noise heard between them.

Shawn fidgeted on the passenger seat. On their way to the parking lot, Kayden had many stories to tell, but perhaps after sensing his agitation, he went silent in consideration, and now the air was filled with tension and awkwardness.

"Is it all right if we stop by somewhere to talk?" Shawn finally asked, his voice was just a murmur, too soft to hear.

Kayden nodded, "Sure."

Therefore, they didn’t head straight to Shawn’s place. Instead, Kayden took a turn off the main road and drove to a park by the riverside, where the tall city buildings from a distance shimmered in the reflection of the dark water.

The car slowed to a stop on the side of the quiet road, a tranquil spot that campers often occupied. Kayden turned off the engine but did not speak at first.

Shawn stared at the rippling water outside, wondering how to begin. The heaviness in his chest was almost unbearable.

"You look better," Kayden said quietly, breaking the silence. "Than the last time I saw you."

Shawn blinked and looked at him. The last time...it was when he yelled at him in Knox’s apartment. He had already apologized through text message, but it still weighed on his mind, so he opened his mouth to speak, however, Kayden interrupted him.

"You looked pale back then... like you hadn’t slept in days," Kayden continued, his lips twitching into a small, relieved smile. "But now you look healthier. Something good must have happened. I’m glad."

That smile was warm...unassuming, and genuine. It broke something in Shawn. He looked away, a large lump forming inside his throat. He had to clear his throat to finally be able to speak calmly, without his voice breaking.

"I didn’t feel well that time," Shawn admitted. His throat still felt dry. He took a deep breath and shared, "I... I had just moved out of Athan’s apartment. And... our engagement was already broken."

Kayden froze. His hand on the steering wheel clenched, but he kept his eyes forward. The silence stretched for a moment before he turned slowly toward Shawn. His face was still, but something flickered in his eyes. A spark—quickly buried.

"I see," he said, the volume of his voice lowered.

Shawn saw the subtle lift in Kayden’s shoulders, like hope blooming where it shouldn’t. But when Kayden saw the sadness in his expression, the curve in the corner of his lips disappeared. He just nodded, solemnly.

"Do you...regret it?" Kayden asked after a beat. He hid the trepidation in his eyes.

Shawn looked at him and shook his head. "No. I don’t."

Kayden’s breath caught. He knew there was something else. That day in Knox’s apartment, the state Shawn was in, told him there was something more. Before he let himself feel relieved by that answer, Shawn’s lowered voice came again.

"If I hadn’t gone through all of that—if I didn’t make that choice... I wouldn’t have realized what I really felt for Athan..."

Kayden’s eyes locked on him, and for the first time that night, his face gave way to vulnerability. He hated to ask, but he must know the answer, even if a large part of him was telling him this would not be good.

"And what... do you feel for him?"

"I love him."

There was no hesitation in Shawn’s answer. His voice cracked slightly, but the truth was steady in his eyes.

Kayden thought Shawn was too cruel for that. He could have acted like he was hesitating, like he was having a hard time choosing the right words to break his heart. A bitter smile played on his face as his world stilled. He looked up, then to his side away from Shawn, then at last, he rested his head on the steering wheel above his clenched hands.

The words Shawn spoke were like bullets ricocheting in his head, hitting him without mercy, bleeding him continuously.

Shawn’s hand trembled, clasped together on his lap. He looked away, not daring to witness how he broke Kayden’s heart, and cowardly closing his eyes.

He had to put an end to this, so with a heavy heart, he continued, "W–What we have now is real. Not something bound by agreement...or by our families. We... We’re together now..."

Another set of words that shattered Kayden. He bit his lip hardly, suppressing not his sobs, but his desire to convince Shawn to think twice, to consider him again, or to choose him, after all, he was the one who was there when he was having a hard time with his family, the one who was there to lift his mood when he was feeling down.

But that was all he was to him. Shawn never let him deep into his heart. He was still halfway through his walls, but Athan...perhaps, Athan had always been there, silently existing in that space.

Kayden lifted his head, eyes focused on the dashboard, his jaw clenched tight. He nodded once, slowly, numbly.

Shawn turned to him fully. "I’m sorry."

Kayden didn’t respond.

Shawn continued, "I’m...truly grateful for you, Kayden. For always being there whenever I needed someone to talk to. I...I’m sorry," his voice finally broke. This conversation was both hurting them, but it was needed. "But I couldn’t let you keep hoping when I’ve already made my choice."

Finally, Kayden whispered, "So...this is goodbye."

Shawn exhaled shakily. "Is it...wrong to wish that this is not...a goodbye? I want to be able to look at our fond memories with a light heart, as a friend... I hope..." he couldn’t continue his words, knowing fully well how selfish it sounded.

Kayden didn’t answer.

Shawn gripped the hem of his clothes. Maybe it was really a goodbye. He reached for the door handle. "I’ll go home by myself."

He stepped out into the cold evening air and closed the door quietly behind him.

Kayden didn’t move. From the driver’s seat, he stared out at the still water. Then his gaze shifted to the side mirror. There, reflected, was Shawn. Walking away. His silhouette grew smaller with each step.

And Kayden’s chest caved. He felt something trickling down his cheeks in silence, and he was scared to address what it was, thus, he looked up, but alas, his vision just blurred even more, and his lower lip trembled.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly with one hand, while the other slapped his face, covering his tear-stricken eyes. The night he met Shawn played in his mind—his seductive smile, his intoxicated scent, and the warmth of his body against him.

Everything resurfaced like a vivid play. It was his most prized memory, but to Shawn, it was nothing but a passing night. Not everything that began in a dream-like, heat-laced, fateful encounter is meant to end in a shared forever.

This was the end of his love.

And it hurt more than he could bear.