Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 76: A father’s request

Chapter 76: A father’s request

Chairman Nathaniel Horace was already in his fifties. His oldest son Amiel was thirty-three years old, whom Knox only met twice ever since the chairman took him in. The second son, Anton, was thirty; the one who blatantly expressed his dislike and hatred towards Knox every time they would meet; Althea was twenty-eight; while Athan was two years older than Knox.

Among the siblings, the younger ones treated Knox amicably, despite their mother’s opposition and their father’s indifference.

The chairman stared at his youngest sporting a bewildered yet wary look. He understood his reaction, after all, he who had cast aside his existence and only provided the basic necessities and never once showed concern for the poor omega, was now claiming him a son and acting like a good father.

Nathaniel knew Knox Arden hated him. He could feel his reproof behind those lowered eyelids, and it gnawed inside him.

The chairman silently placed the teacup above the saucer and broke the silence again, "As you may have heard already, I will officially announce you as my son. Although I can’t do it as soon as we get back, I promise you that you won’t hide from anyone ever again. I will also allow you to take the name Hora—

"I’m grateful, sir, but I’d prefer my name to remain the same," Knox interrupted the older male alpha. His head was bowed, but his voice was firm and unyielding. The name Arden was the only thing that his omega father had left him, if he accepts the name Horace and gets married, then the name Arden will be buried. It was a petty reason, but it was what he wanted.

Nathaniel nodded slightly, giving his approval to Knox’s request, seemingly aware of his son’s reason. "If that’s what you want, I can allow that. On one condition," Knox gulped as he received the chairman’s stern gaze, "Stop addressing me like you’re my employee. Have you heard a son call his father ’sir’? Steve, have you?"

The secretary standing by the edge of the couch like a true butler answered, "I don’t think I encountered such, chairman."

"Right. It’s not normal. Once you’re officially introduced, you’ll have to attend family gatherings as well, and everyone will find it weird to hear you addressing me that way. So, get used to it," Nathaniel demanded.

Knox bit his lower lip, still showing his skepticism toward the chairman. When Nathaniel urged him to speak his mind and stated that he was willing to hear his opinions, Knox cleared his throat and inquired, "Did...your wife and your other sons approve this, sir...?"

Nathaniel showed dismay. Knox quickly lowered his head, nervously pondering if he acted too blunt and bold. The chairman’s voice resonated in the room, "I still haven’t discussed this with them. That’s why I’m asking you to wait a bit more. Those who were present at the backstage will be taken care of Athan. He will make sure that none will bother you. And Knox...I told you to stop calling me that way."

Knox averted his eyes, "I don’t know how to call you..."

"Would it be too much if I asked to be called ’father’?"

Knox was rendered speechless. Even after the chairman dismissed him, he still couldn’t wrap his head around the sudden change in his father’s behavior. What made him suddenly decide to officially recognize him?

"Knox," Athan called out to him and handed him a folder. Knox asked him what was the folder for, thus, Athan answered, "Profiles of security personnel employed by the Horace Family. Until the matter settled in, Father and I agreed to put someone to protect you and Knoa. We did say that the news will be delayed, but the media has ears everywhere. Someone to look after you and my nephew will put us at ease. So, pick one on the list. I already sorted them out, and gave you the most trustworthy and capable ones."

Knox, "Thank you, A."

"You should start packing as well. We’ll be leaving soon."

"Okay," Knox agreed, not expecting that he’d be soon riding the Horace’s private plane back home.

The whole ride was a comfortable yet very silent one. Chairman Nathaniel and Steve were just playing chess on their seats, while Athan was getting back the sleep he lost from organizing the launch with the other teams. Knox spent the entire ride scrolling through his Knoa’s photos in his gallery.

He thought that he’d be walking back home to his apartment building, but when Steve took his luggage and loaded them inside the same car the chairman was using, he gave him a questioning look.

Steve spoke, "Sir Knoa’s in the mansion, young master Knox." He opened the door for Knox, who reluctantly hopped in the backseat next to the chairman, while Athan sat on the passenger seat.

Nathaniel explained the situation, "He asked to see Loki, so I had someone pick him up from the daycare center today and bring him to the mansion. Althea was with him, so there’s no need to worry."

With that, Knox couldn’t complain anymore. He sat silently in his seat the entire time, and once they arrived at the mansion, Knoa’s sleepy face brightened and became lively after seeing his father, welcome Knox and the others. He ran to Knox with a beaming smile. Knox knelt and poured Knoa kisses, then he carried him up; Athan fist-bumped with the little guy, while the chairman rubbed his head and immediately handed a souvenir to him.

Knox watched his child receive his father’s present with twinkling eyes. He witnessed how the chairman’s expression softened, and somehow, he felt elated and relieved. He still can’t be certain if allowing the chairman to publicly announce his identity would be better, but if it means adding another person to the list of people who can love Knoa, then he can endure the unwanted attention.

The father and son ended up spending the night in the mansion, and as soon as tomorrow came, their lives went the same routine, only with the addition of two men in black, tailing Knoa and Knox since then.

When Knox entered the company building, all eyes turned to him, but when he looked at the other employees, their heads would spin like a spinning top just to avoid Knox’s eyes. As he passed by, murmurs and whispers followed him.

"Did you hear? Oh my god, I can’t believe it! And to think they were accusing him of sabotaging the launch! What do you think will happen to those who pointed fingers at him?"

"Ssh, lower your voice. I heard that mostly belonged to the design department and the styling department. We should prepare to welcome new designers soon."

Knox passed by the design department staff working area, and unlike before when his presence was ignored, almost everyone in their seats stood and slightly bowed at him, which only made Knox feel terrible and awkward.

He hastened his steps and went into his office. Glancing at the glass partition, he found out the Athan hadn’t yet arrived, so he first organized his desk and checked his emails. The tip of a brown envelope stuck out underneath the stack of folders on his desk caught his attention.

He pulled it out and realized it was something he didn’t own. The envelope had something inside, and there was no label on it. He took the papers out and scanned the content. His eyes widened as he read everything.

It was someone’s message records and call history log. The recipient of the messages was named Fabri’s CD. The content of their chats was their plan to sabotage the launch and bring down the reputation of the HZ Clothing Brand.

Knox clenched the papers tightly. Anger surged inside him. He took his phone and dialed the number. A few rings happened before someone answered it, and then a timid female voice answered from the other line, "Hello? Who is this?"

Knox’s body stiffened. He recognized the voice! She was the HR employee who became Athan’s temporary secretary when he was on leave!

He quickly ended the call. He was astonished to learn the owner of the message records was the shy female employee who would always nervously bow at him whenever they passed by each other.

Knox even helped her once, and he assumed that she saw him favorably when he volunteered to take his position temporarily.

Meanwhile, inside the security department office, Athan sat on the stool while Vince was busy commanding his subordinates to find replays of the footage on the day the breach happened. They were trying to find out how the girl managed to use one of the marketing department’s computers without getting caught in the surveillance camera.

Athan watched the multiple screens before him as well. His eyes landed on Knox walking out of his office carrying the brown envelope he placed on his desk himself. It was the day after Knox strictly forbade him to help him solve the issue, but he couldn’t just let his brother handle it alone, so he asked Vince to investigate Fabri’s creative designer who posted the same design on their website.

Hacking into someone’s phone and printing out its message records and call logs was a crime, but Athan knew someone who could easily hack a device in a minute without getting caught. Knox was lucky that someone like that was willing to help him clear his name.

Athan leaned back on his chair and pondered how Knox would handle it now that he knew who the culprit was. After that, his mind began to wander to a particular person. He mumbled to himself as he watched Knox, "I need to give Shawn a present, a thank you gift. I wonder what he likes though."