Chapter 199: History might repeat itself
Athan noticed something was off with his younger brother, Knox. The usually cheerful and lively Knox seemed distracted and distant after Azrael dropped him and their kids to the estates. It was fortunate that his mother, Geraldine, already left.
If not, Knox will be bombarded with questions about the other kid, Aresh, and she will jump to conclusions even before hearing the answer.
After dinner that evening, Athan decided to approach him.
"Hey, Knox, can we talk for a minute?" Athan asked, his tone gentle but concerned.
Knox looked up, surprised by the sudden question. "Sure...but about what?"
Athan hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I’ve noticed that you and Azrael have been... distant lately...or is it just me? Ugh, well, I have this feeling that something’s wrong with you. You walked with this anxious and distraught look on your face and you think people can’t tell? Dad rarely leaves his office so he must have not noticed but...Althea and I, even Steve, can tell something has been bothering you. What is it? Did something happen between you and Azrael?"
Knox sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Am I that transparent?" Athan nodded. Knox put down the book he was pretending to read before answering his brother. "It’s nothing. It’s just...sometimes he gets so wrapped up in his work, and I feel like I’m not even there. It’s frustrating."
Knox looked away. Athan frowned. He sat on the chair opposite Knox. "Relationships aren’t easy, especially when both people are passionate about what they do. But have you tried talking to him about how you feel?"
"I rarely even see him, how am I going to? On top of that, he’s been busy with something that I don’t even know about. I trust him, but being left in the dark is frustrating. Someone told me it’s because he’s trying to protect us from danger, but it made me feel unreliable at all. We’re in this together, aren’t we? So, I was hoping he would at least rely on me, even in the smallest thing, but he...he doesn’t even tell me what’s going on."
Knox narrowed his eyes at Athan. "Do you know?"
Athan averted his eyes. Knox raised his eyebrows and leaned forward, pinching the back of his brother’s hand. "You know something."