Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 77: A chance encounter

Chapter 77: A chance encounter

"This will be seen as an invasion of privacy, young master Knox," Steve remarked after reading the documents Knox showed him.

They were seated on the colorful squishy bean bags scattered in the playroom of the daycare center. The children were out in the courtyard, doing outside activities, so Steve and Knox could talk freely inside the room.

From the other side, they could see the children playing through the opened windows. Knox’s eyes automatically latched on Knoa kicking a ball. He unconsciously smiled after witnessing the kid kick the ball to the goalie, who was their teacher.

His attention was only caught after Steve continued, "Where did you get these?"

Knox looked away from his son and turned to Steve. He answered politely, "I found them on my desk this morning. Someone left it there, but I didn’t see who. Though I have a hunch it was Athan. I told him before that I won’t need his help since there are already bad rumors of us going around the company."

"But now that they know your relationships, young master Knox, don’t you think it’s fine now if young master Athan lends you a hand?" Steve carefully suggested. He placed the brown envelope down. "I’m sure he was just as anxious and worried as you are. Please, don’t hesitate to accept help from us if you ever need it."

"Right. Athan was being considerate, and yet I was acting selfishly. I just don’t want to drag their names into another scandal. But I guess it was inevitable," Knox replied. He looked out the window once more, gazing at his son. "I still don’t understand why he suddenly decided to do that. He even allowed me to keep my name and treated Knoa so kindly. It made me wonder...why couldn’t he have done so in the beginning..."

Steve followed his gaze, "The chairman has his reasons, young master Knox. Although it may be true that whatever those are won’t justify his actions toward you, I hope that you’ll let him make it up to you and your son."

Only silence answered the older man. The kids’ cheerful shouts and giggles approached the room. They were already done with their outdoor activities and the teacher was already guiding them inside.

Some of the parents of the other kids entered the room as well. They smiled and slightly bowed to them as a sign of greeting, before getting their bags and calling their children to them.

"I will take these papers, young master," Steve stood and took the envelope. "This can be dangerous to possess after all. And please, let young master Athan help you."

Knox nodded his head, "I will."

"Papa! Grampa Steve!"

The two turned their heads to Knoa running to them. His clothes were a bit messy and dirty, and there was even a piece of grass on his head. He grinned from ear to ear after Knox picked the grass and showed it to him, asking fondly, "Did you roll in the ground?"

"Hihi, I did! It’s so fun, Papa! I roll with Loki too!" Knoa answered, chuckling. Knox ruffled his head and laughed heartily. He could imagine the fluffy large dog rolling with his son in the wide green field of the Horace mansion.

Steve tapped Knox on his shoulder and stated, "I should go now, young master. Sir Knoa, bye-bye."

Knoa waved his hand and flashed his white teeth to the secretary, "Bye-bye, Grampa Steve!"

After Steve left, Knox began wiping Knoa’s face with wet wipes. The kid rambled about his play as he obediently let his father wipe his sweaty back and change his clothes. The other parents were chatting with each other, while Knox was just listening and returning their smiles every time their gazes would stray in their direction.

Because Knox rarely picks up Knoa, he isn’t acquainted with the other parents. He even heard someone asking where the energetic pretty omega who always picked up Knox was. They were probably pertaining to Shawn, but the teacher would only smile and introduce Knox as Knoa’s father.

"Papa, are we going back home now?" Knox asked after they said goodbye to the teacher and went out. A black Mercedez Benz was already waiting for them at the front of the building. A man in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie stepped out of the car and opened the door for them.

Knox sighed as another bout of gasps and murmurs came from behind him. The parents were watching them like eagles, and it was bothering him. He looked down at Knoa who casually waved at the bodyguard and hopped in the car. Knox awkwardly bowed his head to the parents still watching them before he got in.

"No, baby. We’re going to visit Uncle Shawn and buy him lunch."

"Okay~ I miss Uncle Shun too!"

"Haha, yes, me too. I’m sure he’ll be happy if he sees you."

At the same time, Kayden was standing before Azrael in his office. His hands are on his waist as he exasperatedly looked at his cousin who was glaring at the innocent vase on the center table. Kayden was on his rounds after he passed by the emergency room and spotted Azrael sitting on a bed sporting a scary look while his right hand was dripping with blood.

The nurses were terrified that they couldn’t properly tend to his hand, so Kayden approached them and treated the madman himself.

Kayden sighed, "Stop glaring at the flowers. You’re done already so go back home. Don’t strain your hand for the time being, and avoid getting it wet until the wounds close."

Azrael ignored him. His eyes were focused on the tulips in the vase as if they reminded him of someone who could boil his temper into an explosion. His brows knitted, almost meeting each other and his aura was murderous.

Kayden shuddered just standing closer to Azrael. He walked away, sat on his chair behind his desk, and carefully inquired, "Okay. You need to let out that anger. I don’t want you scaring the patients here. One was already whispering how they could see a grim reaper now, and I bet you, your expression’s grimmer as the scythe-wielding skeleton. What happened with your hand?"

Azrael sighed loudly. He ran his hand over his face but yelped instead after using his wounded hand. He cursed under his breath and glared at his right hand.

Kayden whispered, "Idiot."

Azrael turned his head to him, eyes sharpened and ready to throw the vase on the doctor’s face. Kayden pointed out his finger and hastily stated, "You need to work on your temper!... is what you said before, remember? Stop opting for the extreme and breathe in deeply first. Breathe in and out, cousin, then state what the hell is your problem. Don’t resort to violence first."

Azrael, "...right. F*ck you."

Kayden arched his brows. An image of a kid flashed in his head and he mysteriously advised, "I suggest you work on your speech as well. Stop cursing so easily. A rotten mouth can easily infect—ouch! That’s sharp!"

"You earned it! Whose mouth is rotten?" Azrael exclaimed after snatching the magazine below the table and throwing it at Kayden. His hand throbbed from the aggressive movement. He leaned on the couch and crossed his legs. Then, he faintly remarked, "Damn it. It’s really not that easy to turn your back on your roots, eh?"

"What does that mean?" Kayden inquired, genuinely curious. What was making his arrogant and indifferent cousin exhibit a look of self-condemnation? He looked regretful about something.

Azrael looked up and stared at the ceiling while opening and closing his left hand repeatedly as though he was squeezing a ball of air. Kayden noticed his knuckles were bruised, so he could only think that the guy probably punched someone hard in the face. He still didn’t know why Azrael’s right hand was bleeding though. Since it was filled with small cuts, he believed it was because of holding a jagged, sharp object.

"I meant my old man. As soon as I told him about my decision to cancel my engagement, he lashed out and threw the vase at me," Azrael nonchalantly explained.

Kayden showed concern, "Is that why you’re bleeding?"

Azrael shook his head slightly, "No. He threw the vase on the floor and insisted that not only just the vase would be thrown next if I proceeded with my plan," he snickered, "As if he had someone to inherit everything if he disowned me though, he couldn’t scare me. So, I picked up the large piece of the broken vase and gripped it, telling him that not only just my hand would he see bleeding next if he got in my way."

Kayden, "...You’re insane."

"I don’t like being held on the neck like a rabid dog he’s trying to tame. I’ve been following his orders ever since, back when I showed no interest in things so I let him do whatever he wanted. Now...I have someone I like to possess so badly I could die if I don’t get it," Azrael lifted his bandaged right hand and stared at it. He smirked after an idea crossed his mind. "After that, the old man had someone tail me, I caught them, so I punched them in the face until my frustration subsided. Don’t worry though, they’re still alive."

"Wow. Thank you for saying that. Those people might be ones working in my family’s agency."

"I bet they are. Your family is the only one who tolerates and protects all those nasty businesses he started. If I want to look good to a noble family, I should start ripping off those rotten parts, right?"