Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 58: Agreement fulfilled

Chapter 58: Agreement fulfilled

Outside the magnificent building of the Del Valle Group of Companies, birds nesting on the few trees planted in front of the building squawked and flew away as their sleep was disturbed by the commotion nearby.

Outside the entrance, a line of ten men in black standing with their feet spread about thirty inches and hands clasped behind their backs, just like soldiers waiting for their commander to arrive and shout ’attention!’.

The commander in mention then appeared in walking out the revolving door, followed by his second in command and his personal guard. The crowd gathered outside the entrance holding their microphones with different names of news media outlets wrapped around their necks, cameras flashing and clicking, and varied tones of voices that one would be so annoyed to hear.

But the center of all that attention showed no emotion at all, not even vexation from all the clamor. In fact, Luis even took off his glasses and wiped them twice since he doubted the glowing and blooming appearance of his boss, Azrael Del Valle.

For once, he wondered if his boss had finally lost his head for reasons unknown to him yet. Even the fact that he wasn’t glaring at the reporters blocking their way and wasting his precious time was making Luis anxious, as though his heart won’t be at ease if his boss won’t start shouting and kicking off the reporters soon.

"Mr. Del Valle, will you explain what truly happened inside the president’s office of HZ Clothing Brand?!"

"Is it true that President Horace beat you up?!"

"Did you really fight because of an omega?! Mr. Del Valle, how did your fiancée react in this scandal?!"

"Is it true you’re having an affair with Actress Elise Chen behind your fiancée’s back?! Is that why they had a fallout?!"

"MR. DEL VALLE, ARE YOU REALLY IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT HORACE AND YOU FOUGHT BECAUSE YOU CHOSE MS. DIVA INSTEAD?!"

All heads turned to that reporter who shouted at the top of her lungs behind the bunch of seasoned ones. Even the men in black who were supposed to keep their heads and eyes straight moved their pupils to look at the brave reporter.

Azrael frowned. As soon as he took even a single step, the bodyguards encircled and protected him. Anyone not part of his group who dared to approach him was thrown and pushed away. Azrael reached the girl and answered, "I don’t know where you heard that thing, but liking that man would be the last thing I ever do even if my head is under the gallows."

The reporters around started throwing each of their questions again. Azrael answered the most significant ones, "President Horace and I did not fight because of anyone. We simply had a misunderstanding about business proceedings, as you might have heard already, the HZ Clothing Brand offered my fiancée a modeling stint, but I did not approve it because of personal reasons, so this led to a misunderstanding on the President’s part. That’s all. I have also decided to withdraw the case and settle this small matter privately."

A tall reporter shouted, "Can you please elaborate on the misunderstanding, Mr. Del Valle?! And why did you suddenly pull out the case when you suffered severe injuries as witnesses claimed?!"

Hearing that exaggerated rumor, Azrael’s brow twitched. He sighed exasperatedly, "There are no injuries. Rumors tend to exaggerate, so don’t believe anything you hear."

"Then, Mr. Del—

Azrael gave Roy, his personal bodyguard, a meaningful look. The older man then gave orders to the men in black and pushed through until a black Rolls Royce stopped at the driveway and another man in black came out and opened the door for Azrael.

Once the car door shut, Azrael took out his phone and called Knox. The moment it was answered, he spouted, "Are you watching the news right now? I’m on Live, and I publicly announced my withdrawal of the case against...tsk. Anyway, where are you, have lunch with me."

Knox coughed from the other side. Azrael frowned and was about to ask Knox when Knox replied, cutting him off, "I can’t. I’m at the hospital."

Azrael asked, his voice laced with worry, "Are you sick?"

Knox, "No. I have my check-up today. I’m being called now, bye."

"Hey, wait—ah," Azrael clicked his tongue in dismay. He wanted to talk more, but it seemed he called at the wrong time. "Dammit. If I have a knack for cutting people’s sentences, he has a habit of hanging up on people then," he whispered, ignoring Luis and Roy exchanging glances. He just propped his elbow up and caressed his chin, suppressing the urge to call Knox again. He decided to be patient, lest he scared him away again.

Meanwhile, Knox pocketed his phone and followed the assistant inside Dr. Kayden’s clinic. He was gestured to the seat across the doctor’s desk, and he silently settled himself.

"Dr. Kayden is currently on the phone, please wait for a few minutes, Mr. Arden," the male assistant informed.

Knox nodded. He filled out a form given to him by the doctor’s assistant since it was the first time he came for a check-up. After doing so, the assistant stood from his seat and went to the file cabinet. He pulled out a thin folder with a name written ’K. Arden’ on the edge, and then he placed it on the doctor’s desk.

At the same time, the door connected to the inpatient facility opened, and Dr. Kayden entered. "I’m sorry, I’m late. I had to answer an intern’s call."

Knox, "It’s fine."

Kayden sat on his chair and flipped the folder. "Ah, it’s been five weeks since the last time you were here. Have you experienced any abnormality, like fainting from over-releasing, or suffocation from other sources?"

"No, I haven’t," Knox replied politely. He couldn’t help but glance around the doctor’s clinic. His gaze settled on the nameplate on the desk, it was pushed to the edge as if showing the name of the attending doctor wasn’t even important. ’Montgomery...where did I hear that name again?’ Knox asked himself after finding Kayden’s last name familiar.

"Have you begun sensing or smelling other alpha’s scent?" Kayden asked again, pushing the folder to the side. He stood and asked the assistant for his monitoring device.

Knox answered, "I think...I might have."

Kayden halted. He promptly turned to Knox, "And what happened? Did you get affected?"

"Not in a sexual way, yes," Kayden looked confused, so Knox continued, "It was a relative’s scent. I disregarded it as simply a fragrance coming from the flowers, but looking back, it was probably their pheromones. I felt pressured and somehow felt suffocated just by standing in the same room with them."

Kayden took the monitoring device from his assistant as he asked, "How potent it was?"

"They were dominant, but I barely smelled it, so...it didn’t rile me up too much," Knox responded. He adjusted his body on the seat and gave his right arm to the doctor.

Kyden counted his pheromones. Silence reigned between them and only the beeping noises of the device were heard. After it stopped, Kayden took the paper Knox filled out earlier and started writing down his findings.

"I’m surprised you were getting stable. Your pheromones fluctuation has always been unexpected and very irregular. But the result today is better than before. I suggest you keep whatever you’re doing right now..." Kayden cleared his throat. He already heard from Diva about his cousin and his patient, but he was certain Knox was only caught up in Azrael’s selfishness. However, if that would help Knox in a way, then who was he to interfere?

"I will lessen your medication, for now. If your condition remains this way, then you won’t be needing them anymore unless you’re in heat. But just in case, better keep them with you all the time."

Knox nodded. Kayden wrote him a prescription and after a few more questions, he allowed him to go. After paying, he left the outpatient department and headed to Athan’s car which he borrowed and hasn’t yet returned to him.

He was scrolling the news on his phone as he walked to where the car was parked when a child-like familiar voice reached his ears.

"Papa!"

Knox turned to the direction of the voice. His eyes widened after seeing Knoa waving his little hands at him from the opposite door to the outpatient entrance. He was in the resting lounge next to the emergency ward.

Knox immediately crossed the distance. Knoa looked healthy and lively, so he calmed himself and pondered what was he doing in the hospital in the first place. Only after he approached closer did he recognize Shawn standing a foot away from Knoa.

His shaking hands were on his mouth, covering half of his face. He looked lost, while on the bed a few meters away from them was a doctor and a few nurses trying to revive an old man. Knox scooped Knoa and cupped his head, turning it away from the scene.

"Shawn..."

Shawn flinched. He blinked and finally, the tears fell in his eyes. Knox immediately pulled the younger omega in his arms, and Knoa patted his head as though he already understood what was happening.

Next to the doctors were Steve, looking blankly at the dying man. Knox wondered who could it be when Shawn’s muffled voice came through, "D-Dad..."

Knox met Steve’s eyes but it was as indifferent as ever. The older man looked away after glancing at the bawling Shawn, and never looked at their direction again.

Miraculously, the vitals of the patient went back and up. Everyone sighed in relief. Shawn lifted his head and dared to walk closer, but a younger woman who looked like Shawn blocked him, glaring at him with anger, "This is all your fault! If only you hadn’t left home and obeyed Dad, this would have never happened!"