Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 85: Left with no choice

Chapter 85: Left with no choice

Throughout the whole ride, Azrael’s phone kept ringing. Then, after a few calls more, he finally exploded; turned his phone off, and threw it into the backseat. Witnessing that, Knox couldn’t help but think, ’Why throw it away if you already turned it off?’

He still couldn’t believe what happened. Not just because of the news, but because he finally realized why Azrael dragged him around. He closed his eyes tightly and massaged his temples. ’What the hell is he even thinking? He could have just turned on the TV on his home and we could just watch in there! Why dragged me in a crowded place if he knew he’d be on the news?!’ Knox screamed inwardly.

He wanted to pull Azrael’s collar and shake him until all his frustration was gone. Sometimes, he really couldn’t comprehend what was going on in the alpha’s head.

Knox continued to ponder to himself, "If I didn’t notice that woman taking a picture and we didn’t run away immediately, people could have flocked to us and seen my face. I’m already stressed out about how the chairman plans to publicly introduce me or if there’s someone who’d just tattle about me, but here I am, almost getting involved in another scandal again!’

He suddenly felt so tired. Out of the blue, as he opened his eyes and wearily gazed outside the window, he quietly mumbled, "I wanna go home now..."

Azrael flinched. He knew Knox was the kind of guy who always seeks a peaceful and simple life, away from the prying eyes of the public, so he kind of expected his detached behavior after what happened. However, he already set his plans on water, and he’s rowing the boat already. There was no way he’d let Knox avoid him again.

Unconsciously, his hands clenched the steering wheel. "I doubt that going home will be helpful."

Knox turned to Azrael, "Why? What do you mean?"

Azrael cocked his head at the rearview mirror and explained, "Do you see that black car? Someone had been following us ever since we left the shopping district. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go straight home."

Knox noticed the mentioned car. From the way it stayed behind them even when there was room to overtake, it was confirmed that the car was tailing them indeed. "Then, how am I going to go back home?!"

Azrael focused his eyes on the road again. Knox looked distressed, but he couldn’t be more grateful that Roy kept tailing them even after the white car was gone. "You can’t, if you don’t want your personal address to be found out. Let’s wait until I can find a way to stop the rumors from going around. I will also make sure you won’t be involved with this. Also, you’re living with that beta, right? He might get dragged into this if you insist on going back home."

Knox furrowed his brows, ’Beta?... Oh, he must be referring to Franz. I almost think he’d already found out. He seemed happy after I told him I was going to introduce him to someone important to me. But with all these going on, how am I going to tell him now?’

"...yeah," Knox answered as he looked away. "He’ll be worried if I don’t get home—

"He’s just a friend, isn’t he?" Azrael probed, emphasizing the word ’friend’. "You can just call him and inform him that you’re living with me in the meantime."

Knox’s head spun at the speed of light back to the alpha, "What?!"

"Where else do you expect to stay? If my house is being watched as well, then you can only get off inside to avoid being seen—

"How am I going to go to work?" He frantically asked, adding in his head, ’And what about Knoa?!’

"It’s just Saturday today. And Monday is a holiday, so, I have two days to take care of it. I’m just being careful, Knox. But if you don’t mind your address getting known, then I can drop you near your house. I’m just worried, they might still find out about you. I just thought you’d feel the safest in my home." He gave Knox a worried look, silently praying for him to already give in.

Knox contemplated. He fell into deep thought. ’Staying with Azrael will greatly help with my condition, but having him near can also be dangerous. Besides, I told Athan I’d go back today! What excuse am I going to tell him? Will he accept it easily if I tell him I’m spending the weekend with Azrael since he already knew he was Knoa’s father anyway?’

Then, he recalled the fight they had and he shook his head in disagreement, ’No. I’m sure he’ll go to the mansion and drag me out. Argh! I don’t know anymore! I’m going crazy here but why is that jerk looking like he’s enjoying this?!’ he narrowed his eyes at Azrael who was calmly driving, not even daring to speed up to lose the car tailing them.

When he noticed Knox scowling at him, he flashed an innocent smile and asked, "Care to share your thoughts?"

"How can you be so calm?" Knox obliged.

Azrael just chuckled. Knox was grumpy but even his knitted brows and lips curved downwardly were cute. ’I can tell him everything was under control, but he’d start to get suspicious, knowing how keen he is.’

In the end, Knox was left with no choice. He even had goosebumps after the black car entered the subdivision as well. He asked Azrael why someone could be allowed entry, but the alpha answered nonchalantly, "They probably said some believable excuse. I’ll look into it later. Don’t worry."

Before they entered the gates, Azrael sneakily brought out his hand to the window and gestured to Roy not to follow them inside. As their car maneuvered inside the gates, the black car went past behind them slowly, allowing Knox to finally breathe in relief. He made sure to memorize the plate number and the car’s brand and model.

Azrael commented once they were inside, "Right. You said you’re going to introduce me to someone tomorrow. Can we postpone it? I mean, I want everything settled before I face them. But if you insist, let’s go tomorrow."

Knox was on his way to the kitchen, he halted upon hearing Azrael’s words. Without turning to look at him, Knox shook his head and muttered, "We can...postpone it...for now."

"Well, I also think that’d be for the best. I’m going to call someone, but if you want to change clothes, go to the farthest door on the left upstairs, you can use anything in that room," Azrael remarked before turning away and fishing his phone in his pockets.

Knox sighed. He took off the mask and threw it into the bin. He took a bottle of water and gulped it all in one drink as if he were in a hurry. A bit of water escaped his lips and dripped on his clothes. Looking down, he saw the printed words on the sweatshirt he wore.

’Why am I getting so anxious over this? This is also what I want. I’ve decided to give Knoa a whole family, so I’ve been hopefully waiting for Azrael to break it like what he always said,’ he thought again. He’d been thinking a lot since the news broke out, so his head started to throb again.

Lifting his head again, he noticed his reflection on the reflective wall on the other side of the kitchen. His expression wasn’t good. It was the face he once saw when he learned he was pregnant. Anxiety and fear were all over his face. He covered half of his face, wanting to erase those emotions as he murmured against his palm, "You’re being a coward again, Knox Arden. Get it together. This is what you’ve been expecting. Learn to trust him...again."

Azrael’s image while smiling at him warmly during the night they shared at the villa, resurfaced in his mind. Going back further, when he welcomed his kisses on the day he asked him to withdraw the case, Knox already admitted to himself that he did that not because it was what Azrael asked him of, but because part of him was already believing in his words.

He allowed him inside his life again. And now, he wanted Azrael in Knoa’s life as well. A complete family for his child is all Knox wanted.

After steeling himself and flushing all his doubts down the drain, he went upstairs and decided to take a bath. The room Azrael gave him was twice as large as his room in his apartment. The minimalist interior design was calming, but somehow it made the room look unlively as if it was a room that hadn’t been occupied for years.

"He said I can use everything here..." Knox mumbled to himself as he walked into the spacious walk-in closet. The open shelves built from floor to ceiling on one side were filled with business suits.

The island drawer with glass as the top cover displayed rolled neckties, watches, and sunglasses. Different kinds of shoes were displayed on the opposite side, while the side facing Knox was filled with casual clothes.

He walked to that part and hesitantly pulled on a beige t-shirt, and black shorts, then, pulling the drawer underneath the clothes, he found boxers and briefs. He took one and examined it. He saw a tag on the very back, and only then did he notice that everything he pulled still had their tags.

Aghast, he started checking the clothes and confirmed that they all had their tags. His eyes even widened in shock after seeing the numbers on them, but what baffled him the most was the sizes. They all had one size, but it was a size smaller than Azrael.

Then, if these clothes didn’t belong to him, who owns them?