Chapter 105: Azrael learned the truth
"Dad was thinking of sending you and Knoa out of the country to escape the dia in the anti."
From staring out the window, Knox abruptly whipped his head toward his brother who stood by the door. His face expressed disapproval. On the television in his room, the news about him and his kidnapping was being talked about live on air, as though it was a national crisis that needed to be addressed to the public on a live conference.
Giving Knox an unsmiling look, Athan continued, "Mom and older brother Anton will visit here in a few days. I know you’d stay if Dad asks, but still, eting my older brother in your current state will only stress you more. So, in the anti, take Knoa on a vacation and just co back at least until the issues have subsided. You and Knoa can—
"We can just go back to my apartnt," Knox said, cutting off Athan’s words.
"After what happened?" Athan answered incredulously. He looked away to avoid glaring at his already troubled brother, but hearing Knox’s stubbornness was sohow vexing. So, he whirled around and grabbed the door, ready to step out after saying his last words, "You can’t. Go back once it’s safe... no, just move into my building. I’ll buy the unit next to . I’ll ask soone to move all your things once the purchase is done. So, stay here until then, or take a trip out of the country."
"Ath—
"No buts, Knox. The whole nation already knows who you are, reporters will flock to you trying to get a scoop on your story. On top of that, you just got kidnapped. You can’t stay in that neighborhood where security is lacking. I will arrange the house you’ll be staying abroad, once you go back, you can move to my address. End of discussion. Go get so rest," Athan declared, leaving no room for Knox to complain.
Slam!
The door closed a bit louder. Knox glanced back outside the window again. He inspected the exterior structure as if searching for sothing that could help him escape, though it’s not like he would really do so.
He was just frustrated and bored. Grabbing the remote control on the center table, he turned off the television and sat next to the opened window where the wind blew and so light was seeping in.
He leaned back and closed his eyes, only to get startled by another loud sound of a door hitting the wall. Then, a tiny and energetic voice echoed.
"Papa!"
Knox’s exhausted face brightened at the sight of his child running to him. Knoa jumped him on the seat and squeezed himself between Knox’s legs to hug his father closer.
"Did I succeed, Papa? No one knows Knoa’s task! Uncle Shun said that if I bring you a phone without anyone knowing, I win," Knoa grinned, looking proud of himself.
Knox tilted his head and wiped his son’s sweaty forehead from running. Confused, Knox spoke, "What do you an? Uncle Shun asked you to bring
a phone. Where?"
"Here! Uncle Shun and I are playing bring !" Knoa showed his pocket to his father as he excitedly waited for complints. His eyes were sparkling as he exclaid, "I complete the task, Papa? Knoa didn’t fail!"
Seeing the tip of the phone in the jumpsuit’s pocket, Knox laughed rrily. He rubbed Knoa’s head and rained him kisses. The kid giggled and hugged his father’s neck.
Knox said through his soft giggles, "Knoa, baby, you’re the best! Yes, sweetie, you complete the task with flying colors! Can you let Papa borrow the phone now?"
Knoa, "Okay!"
Knox fished the phone in his pocket. But his eagerness was stoned upon seeing the screen on an ongoing call with the person he intended to call.
His entire body stiffened. He could feel the cold sweat forming on his forehead. Knox blinked, praying that the call was his imagination. However, even if he did it ten tis or more, the call wasn’t disappearing, only the call duration was increasing.
The silence from the phone spoke volus that even without seeing the person behind, he could tell what his expression was.
’Did he...hear us?’ He still anxiously asked himself as he slowly put the phone in his ear.
Knoa looked up, watching his father closely. They said kids could pick up their parent’s mood more easily than they might think, so after seeing his father’s troubled look, Knoa’s cheerful vibe vanished. A slight confusion flashed in his innocent eyes.
The kid wondered why his father was making that agitated face.
Silently, Knoa pushed the stuffed toy onto his father’s lap, as though he was hoping that giving his favorite toy to his father would comfort him.
Due to this, Knox snapped from his dazed state. Seeing the worried look on his son, Knox forced a smile and whispered to Knoa after covering the phone with his other hand, "Okay, baby, my turn now. Uhm...bring ...a chocolate cake."
"Got it!" As fast as his deanor went gloomy after seeing his father’s unsettled expression, Knoa bead after receiving another errand. He waddled to the door but then stopped in the middle to check on his father again.
Knox flashed his teeth in a wide smile, hiding the uneasiness that was slowly creeping into his system. He waved to Knoa, and the kid waved back and finally left.
Silence reigned. In the room and on the phone, there was nothing from the other side, not even a breathing sound.
’Did he not hear? Was the phone not on his ear when we were—
"Papa."
Knox froze. His grip on the phone tightened as he braved himself to listen. He already made up his mind to tell Azrael, but not through the phone. ’Not like this...’
A cold voice ca from the phone again, "That kid...he called you Papa."
Knox closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, then he admitted, "Yes..."
He heard a loud sigh as if the person who took it was trying to remain calm and suppressed his shouting. Guilt washed over Knox. Why was he hesitating to shout at him? Azrael had the right to do so.
They might have started on a rough beginning after eting again, but even Knox knew how unfair he had been, to both Azrael and his son. Even so, he didn’t regret his decisions.
The alpha spoke again, "Knox, did you...no...that kid, Knoa...called Shawn his uncle, right? I heard it right, yes? How old is he now? Why is he with you? Is he not Shawn’s son? Then, his features...did he...is he...dammit, Knox, tell . Speak. Don’t f*cking let
think about this and hope...no, haa...b-baby..."
Knox could hear Azrael’s voice shaking. This was the reason why he wanted to tell the truth to him personally. He didn’t want to be deprived of seeing Azrael’s expression. Is he happy? Extrely shock? Did he like hearing that they have a child together? Or was he scared, angered, or anguished?
He bit his lower lip and held back his tears. Hearing Azrael’s trembling voice reminded him of the ti he ever cried on his shoulders. Azrael cried for him, and now he might be crying for Knoa.
How could Knox ever feel doubt on this man again?
He cleared his throat and smiled softly, as though all the burden of carrying that secret was finally lifted, was finally shared with the person most deserving to know of it before anyone else.
"Hm," Knox humd, his voice as gentle as a leaf falling from the tree, and as honest as the branches swaying with the wind. "Knoa...he’s mine...no, he’s ’ours’, Azrael. Our precious child."
At that mont, on the other side, Azrael’s frozen figure lted. He slumped back on the bed; his eyes were blankly staring at his trembling hands, slowly and vividly reminiscing the tis he t that little kid with a fluffy head and unwavering cheeky smile.
Why did he not realize from the start?
"Sir, what happened?!"
From the background, he could hear his secretary shouting but his words weren’t registering in his head. All it had inside was Knox’s confirmation of his suspicion...replaying over and over again.
Luis began to panic at his boss losing focus and hearing. ’Is it an underlying effect of his head injury?! Did he go deaf and slow?!’
He rapidly went to the door and was about to call for help, when his feet were halted on their tracks after hearing a faint chuckle.
Soon, that chuckle turned into a bitter laugh. Luis couldn’t see his boss’ expression because his head was lowered and covered by his arm holding the phone to his ear, however, he sohow sensed his mood changed.
The temperature in the room felt colder and tension lood in the air. Luis wondered why his boss suddenly changed after showing unconstrained excitent earlier.
Then, an icy voice after that bitter and pained laughter erupted in the room, "Knox Arden. How could you only tell
that now?"
Azrael looked up, his eyes full of hurt, accusation, betrayal, and subdued anger. He added through gritted teeth, "If I hadn’t overheard it, did you even plan to tell
at all? Damn it, Knox. How long did you intend to keep it from ? How long are you going to hide?! What else do I have to do...for you to trust
fully, hm?"
His voice completely broke at that last sentence. He was extrely upset, but that still did not overwhelm his rapture. However, before he could spout words that he might regret later, Azrael ended the call. He sprung up from his seat; his eyes blazing with more determination.
He couldn’t wait to see them. His family. His son and his soon-to-be-husband.
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