Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 51: A sudden call [2]

Chapter 51: A sudden call [2]

The car rolled into a sloping street that seemed deserted from the lack of vehicles passing on the road. From the corner they passed, the thick and tall grey-colored gate that span endlessly which made Knox wonder what was the property inside for came to view.

The neighborhood was like a ghost town, Knox thought as he glanced around to familiarize himself with the area. ’It doesn’t mean that I’m thinking of coming back here anyway,’ he reasoned. His heart was still beating fast, and every corner they turned to and block they passed, the dreadful feeling inside him seemed to grow bigger.

Steve furtively glanced at the omega behind. The fingers fiddling with themselves were enough proof to tell that the young man was anxious. He sighed and looked away. It wasn’t his place to interfere, or he couldn’t say anything to comfort him when he was the very person who brought him to his father.

Still, Steve believed that the chairman only wanted what was best for his youngest son.

They turned to another corner again. Knox cleared his throat and hesitantly asked, "Sir Steve, are we not there yet?"

The secretary turned to Knox and answered, casting a brief glance at the grey-colored gates in the background, "We’re near the entrance, sir Knox. We’re already at the neighborhood. And," the car slowed down and halted. Steve looked ahead and saw the gates open inwardly automatically. He then added, "We’re actually here now. We’re entering the premises."

Knox looked out the window and his eyes bulged in disbelief, "Wait, this gate...this vast place...?"

Steve continued his words nonchalantly, "Indeed. This is the Horace Mansion, Sir Knox. It is the main house where the chairman and his wife reside."

Knox flinched after learning of that. His father’s wife, a female alpha, clearly showed her disapproval of him. She was elegant and sophisticated, and never directly insulted him and his father, yet her eyes always looked at him condescendingly and acted with much hostility.

Not long after, the vehicle stopped in front of the mansion that seemed like a palace in Knox’s eyes. He had seen Azrael’s home and was in awe, but the Horace Mansion was much bigger and wider than the young alpha’s house.

He felt like a peasant getting the privilege to enter such a castle. Somehow, the nervousness he carried momentarily disappeared. A female beta servant in a knee-length skirt, white long-sleeved shirt, and buttoned black vest paired with black high heels, stood by the entrance. She bowed as soon as Steve and Knox approached.

Knox returned the bow with a curt one. Once he entered that palace-like place, the grandeur started to press him down again. He felt inferior; even the servants looked more professional, elegant, and confident than him.

Once again, his chest began pounding after the female servant led them, "This way, Mr. Steve, Sir Knox."

Steve followed. Knox asked him as he walked beside the older man, "Do you often come here?"

The secretary nodded, seemingly understanding why Knox had inquired, "I do, Sir Knox. On the left wing is where the chairman’s office, so I always just came in that direction. I seldom used the main entrance, so, I too, am not familiar with this path."

"I see," Knox replied. Then, he quietly added, "I thought I’d be meeting him in his office."

That was always the case. Like an employee receiving orders or scoldings for mistakes they did, Knox felt no different from them whenever he would stand before his father’s desk. The same eyes he only saw from the mirror would always look down at him and regard him as nothing but his servant...or might be even lower than that.

The female servant stopped before a door. She turned to them again, "Sir Knox, you can enter here. Mr. Steve, may escort you to the other room, please?"

Knox’s nervousness doubled. Entering alone and facing the chairman behind the door already made his back sweat and tingle from anxiousness. Steve patted Knox’s shoulders and whispered, "Chairman Horace is not a scary person. You’ll be fine, Knox."

He followed the servant silently after that. Knox blankly stared at the door. Is he acting like that because his father was scary? Perhaps. Or perhaps he knew that beyond that fear he felt, hid an extreme hatred that was yet to be unleashed toward the person inside.

’That’s what I fear. The idea of me, expressing that feeling...and losing a family again,’ Knox murmured inside his head. Today was his father’s death anniversary, the father who died miserably protecting his wife and son. Sometimes, Knox wondered, if the chairman had only put a bit of an effort to take responsibility and search for his father, then, maybe, just maybe, Knox’s father would still be alive.

He hesitantly lifted his fist and knocked on the door twice. A cold and curt voice came from behind, "Come in."

Knox inhaled deeply and puffed out the air a bit louder. He twisted the doorknob and pushed the door forward.

The room was bright, unlike what Knox expected. The late morning light was coming from the floor-to-ceiling window panes with their blinds folded to the top. Behind those windows, was an enclosed garden with a rectangular pool filled with coy fishes, and the entrance was at the other side of the room, where a tall man stood facing the flower garden ahead.

His shoulders were wide yet slightly hunched and unnoticeably looked weary. The weight of the burden he carried through decades sat upon those shoulders, yet when his head angled a bit to cast a glance on Knox, his eyes bore no expression, as cold and indifferent as before.

With his back turned away like that, Knox saw nothing but a lonely man, but upon meeting his gaze, any sympathy for whatever he held in those inscrutable eyes disappeared.

Chairman Nathaniel Horace looked ahead again. His eyes settled on the yellow butterflies hovering around a certain flower, "You run off in the middle of your meeting with the Meyers’ son, even leaving all your things to him and making him deliver them here. You’ve done a rude and disgraceful thing. You could have ended the date properly but you acted like that and disgraced this family."

Did Knox tell Rikard to deliver his things here? No. He couldn’t refute that as it would seem he was just trying to question his words. But he made sure to explain his actions even if he earned his ire, "Knoa was rushed to the hospital. I was in a panic so I couldn’t inform Mr. Meyers properly. I’ll make sure to explain what happened to him."

The chairman, "I heard your son suffered a high fever only. And he was being taken care of by Steve’s nephew, was there really a need to act like that? I clearly told you that I won’t tolerate any shameful acts that may ruin the reputation of this family."

Knox clenched his fists on his sides, "A high fever could still be dangerous. I’m sorry that I acted rashly but I don’t regret my actions. I’m sure Rikard will understand since he’s also a father like me."

Chairman Nathaniel spun around and glared at Knox, "You don’t understand what I’m saying. Chairman Meyers barely accepted you as his son’s marriage candidate and yet you add another reason to why he kept looking down on you. If you continue acting like this, you won’t be able to find a suitable partner that will accept you and your child!"

Knox hid his clenched fists at his back as soon as the older man turned around. He lowered his head and avoided his chilling eyes, "I’m not against the idea...but that is also not my priority right now. I can raise Knoa with me alone."

"You’re not raising him alone. You’re depending too much on Athan and his fiancée that you’re delaying their union! That kid, not only did he keep hiding you from me and postponing his engagement, but he even fought and got a court summon because of you!" the chairman seethed in anger. He averted his eyes from Knox and pinched the bridge of his nose. A few creases on his forehead appeared, making him look older and weary.

Knox’s heart pounded even louder. He lifted his head upon hearing the blame and asked his father, befuddled and stammering, "What...what are you saying? What about Athan?!"

The chairman grunted. He sat on the couch and looked at Knox, "Did you really not know? That rebellious child attacked Chairman Del Valle’s son after insulting you! I don’t know what is going on between you and that man but of all people! The Del Valle are much more influential and prominent in this country than our family, even if were as powerful and wealthier as them, our force and influence here had just been planted. It still hasn’t grown enough to confront them!"

The poor omega shrunk from the revelation. His head was filled with questions. Why would Athan attack Azrael? Why would Azrael let himself be attacked when his personality won’t even let a fly escape unscathed after buzzing around him?

Then it hit him. The last call he had with Athan and the foreboding feeling he felt from his words. Just as he was about to open his mouth to admit to his father his deepest secret, the door slammed open loudly, and hurried footsteps followed.

Chairman Nathaniel and Knox were both startled and hastily turned their heads to the entrance. Athan walked with a darkened expression. He glared at his father and pulled Knox toward him, "Don’t involve him in this, father. I’m the one who punched that bastard’s face. I’ll answer the summon and face him head-on."

The chairman’s expression turned grim. His eyes were furious as they bore into his legitimate son. But in the end, he just sighed and stood, walked to the garden as he spoke, "Your company will suffer greatly once this scandal reaches the news. Not only the one here but the other branches abroad as well. You won’t be receiving anything from me ever again. That would be your inheritance, if you ruin it, don’t come running to me again, Athan."

Athan didn’t answer. He just pulled out Knox away from that place.