Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 67: The truth unfolds [4]

Chapter 67: The truth unfolds [4]

Knox clenched his fists under the table. In that room, only Athan was on his side, but he would only deepen their hatred of him if he blatantly accepted his support right in their faces. It was enough that he looked angry for his sake, but he couldn’t let Athan explode.

So, Knox slightly kicked Athan’s foot underneath, and when he turned to him, he casually nodded and stood, "I understand. I will call for that temporary secretary to aide you, Mr. President."

Athan stared at Knox, before responding, "There’s no need."

"I’ll excuse myself then," Knox bowed and left.

The room fell into a cold silence. Athan knitted his brows and coldly spat, "How long must I waste my time sitting in this silence?"

The people jolted from that voice laced with impatience. Dalia immediately signaled for Rona to begin, and the meeting proceeded as intended.

On the other hand, Knox went back to his office and tried to continue working as if he wasn’t affected, yet every time he remembered how Dalia, who he thought would believe him, looked and dismissed him, he felt hurt and unable to focus.

Athan went back to his office an hour later. Knox followed him as he passed on his desk. Athan hasn’t yet taken his seat when Knox declared already, "Sir Athan, I know you believe that I didn’t do it. So, let me handle this...clearing my name, that is."

Athan halted and looked back at him, "How are you going to do that?"

"I’ll find something."

"I can’t stop you, can I?"

Knox flashed a weary smile at him, "Hm. You can’t help me as well."

"You’re so stubborn, Knox. What’s wrong if I help you? You’re paying too much attention to other people’s opinions. Who are they, anyway? They’re insignificant. Stop wearing yourself out pleasing them."

Knox lowered his head. He’s not pleasing people; he just doesn’t want trouble. But it seemed that the more he shied away from conflicts, the more he became a pushover. If only he could curse openly at his coworkers and flash his middle fingers at them, then he might be feeling less tired and distressed.

"I’ll be fine." Those were the words he could only say to Athan.

Athan just silently followed his brother’s retreating back with his gaze. He felt unsettled, so he won’t be able to stop himself from intervening.

Soon, the day passed just like that. Darkness crept outside the glass windows of his office, and soon the nightscape was lit by small and colorful blinking lights. Knox momentarily paused at his work and glanced at the view. His headache somehow subsided gazing outside.

His phone rang. He blinked and yawned before swiping the screen where an unregistered number flashed, "Yes, hello?"

"Papa!"

"Knoa!" He straightened his back and put on a smile unconsciously, "Where are you now? Tell Sir Steve to send you back to Uncle Franz, okay? I’m done with work, soon, so—

His fake jovial speech was cut off by an expectant screech, "Papa! Grampa said Knoa can sleep here! Can I? Can I?"

Knox’s body froze. He could imagine Knoa jumping for joy as he talked with him, eyes sparkling with excitement. Knoa continued in a gleeful voice, "I wanna play more with Loki! Can I, Papa?"

Who’s Loki? Knox pondered. He bit his lower lip and responded in a low voice, "Then...what about Papa? Papa will be alone if you don’t go home."

He’s being selfish, Knox admitted inwardly. It was obvious that Knoa was having fun, but he was inadvertently projecting his own feelings to him. The more people like Knoa, the more he will be protected and loved. Why can’t he think that way?

Why can’t he be happy his son was being accepted in that place, by that person?

Knox brushed the thought and replied, sounding a bit dejected, "Who’s Loki? Is he your new friend?"

"He’s Athan’s pet dog, a Samoyed."

An older voice answered Knox. His grip on the phone tightened as his pupils shook. It was the first time he heard the chairman’s voice on the phone, but he was certain it was him. There was no mistaking it, even though the voice sounded warm and calm.

"It’s already past eight and you’re still working. Sending the child to your friend’s home will only to wait for you will only tire him out. You can let him sleep here. I’ll make sure to send him to his school tomorrow morning," Chairman Nathaniel added. Knox expected that he’d hung up after that, so he was surprised when the older man continued, "The mansion is quiet. Your aunt went on a business trip and the brothers rarely go back home."

Did he say that to put him at ease? Knowing how uncomfortable he is toward his family, except around Athan and Althea.

"I’ll keep him for now, so you can work as late as you want."

The call ended with Knox unable to speak any word back. He couldn’t even speak to his child longer. Knoa can’t sleep without him – he should have said that. However, the excited voice of his son, even at that time when he normally falls asleep already, relived in his head. He fiddled with his phone for quite some time, until he decided to send the unregistered number a message.

’He will have a hard time sleeping by himself. Please, stay with him.’

He hit the send button with a prayer that Knoa can sleep properly. Part of him wanted to come and pick him up, but looking at the bunch of emails he has to respond to, it will probably take an hour before he finished. He was already feeling bad for always leaving Knoa to Franz’s place.

’I’m sure they can’t do things they want with a child around,’ he mumbled to himself. Alex never complained, and was always so kind to the both of them, but that only made Knox more guilty.

"Knox, you can go home already," Athan appeared before him. Knox shook his head at him and pointed at his monitor with his lips. The president sighed and ruffled his head, "Fine. Go home straight once you’re done."

"I will."

After that, Athan left. It seemed like he has another appointment. He’d been frequenting the hospital whenever he had the time.

"He must have been checking on Shawn," Knox’s shoulders slumped. He can’t even find the time to slip from work and visit him. He felt awful that he can’t show his face, after receiving so much help from Shawn. ’I wonder if Dr. Kayden was making progress. I just hope the two alphas won’t get in trouble.’

An hour later, he finished everything and quickly stepped out. Surprisingly, their floor was already deserted. The lights are still on, but all the monitors are already off. It was rare for him to stay later than the design department. Shrugging his shoulders from that peculiarity, he hopped in the elevator, failing to notice the lurking shadow that emerged on the exit door.

That shadow lingered in the staff working area before entering Knox’s office. The shadow seemed to be looking for something, and once he found what he was looking for, he left the floor.

Meanwhile, in the streets of the night district filled with pubs and nightclubs lined on both sides, a newly erected establishment was looking down on the old ones from its taller and distinct façade. One look and everyone can tell it was a high-end bar.

Anyone would think why would someone chose to build a place in that area known for its promiscuity and filled with establishments offering sexual services legally allowed by the law. The flashy entrance of the building was enough to blind any guest, but the spacious dance floor could even rival a nineteenth century ballroom hall.

Anyone would feel shy stepping inside the place with their casual clothes since the onlookers spotted people in two or three-piece business suit walking in and out of the building.

Unbeknownst to them, the lively music and booming noises from the sound system filling the dance floor was nothing but a mask to hide what truly happens at the upper floor.

"Y-You can’t do this to me! I’m the son of the congressman—!"

A wine bottle hit the face of the congressman’s son. The bottle shattered and the reddish liquid splashed on his face, drifting like blood, washing away the real one that trickled on his head and nose.

Four years ago, the three alphas who dared to molest Knox Arden escaped Azrael’s wrath as his attention was then focused at the omega’s disappearance. He would have forgotten them already, until one came and threatened him. Once he remembered, he asked Sandro to track them down.

One of them was now the son of a congressman vying for his support. Instead of convincing him, the son planned to threaten him of something not even worth his time.

"Did you say you witnessed one of my men...kill that fatty chairman...what’s the name again?"

Roy, Azrael’s bodyguard, answered his master, "Chairman Otis, sir."

Azrael cackled, "Right. So, did you kill him, Roy? Or did you order someone to do it?"

Roy shook his lowered head slowly, "I did not, sir. The chairman died of cardiac arrest while having fun with his sex slaves."

"Seriously?" Azrael blurted out innocently. He shook his head at the incredulous news, then he stood and glared down at the kneeling congressman’s son whose lips quivered as he looked up at the intimidating master of that place. "Did you hear that? How daring of you to demand me to support your father in exchange of keeping my secrets. Heh, it made me wonder if you truly can keep them without losing your sanity."

He gave the two men in black standing nearby an order, and they quickly grabbed the man and pushed him to the floor face down. The man struggled with a shaky voice, "L-Let g-go! This—ARGH!"

His fingers crack after Azrael stepped on them without mercy. The next he stepped onto was his elbow, bent up from the floor and held by his men. Screams resonated within the walls. Once they subsided, Azrael wickedly remarked again, "You have to dig deeper, if you want to find dirt on my name. If you dig six feet underground, then who knows, you might find a fresh corpse inside."

The congressman’s son paled, understanding the meaning of Azrael’s words. He broke into sweat and tears and shouted that he won’t do it again. Azrael was irked by his incessant screaming that he lifted his foot to kick his face, however, he halted midway when his phone rang a tone he specifically set if that person calls.

Fishing his phone in his pocket, the name of his little tiger flashed on the screen. He was surprised, utterly surprised by the sudden call, but soon his lips curved into a wide smile. He waved to Roy and silently gestured to throw the congressman’s son away, as he walked back on the sofa and answered the phone.