Gary began explaining Cliff Redeker's history after reviewing the old patient's file. "Cliff Redeker was around 10 or 11 years old when he was admitted for treatment, and he was brought here by court order." Both Braylon and Eryx were stunned. A court order? Did that mean he had committed a crime? They exchanged a questioning look, and Gary chuckled softly. "You’re right to be suspicious. He murdered his father because the man abused him both physically and mentally. He also had some psychiatric issues that were treated here. Despite being in prison, he continued his education, and after 10 years, he was released. I was the one who wrote the positive report for his release, as he had fully recovered." Although Gary insisted that Cliff was now a normal person after treatment, the detectives couldn't fully believe it. If he had been cured, why was his "psychic character" emerging now? Did it mean that the inner darkness he had once struggled with had returned, causing him to kill aga
TWO DAYS LATER Cliff sat in the interrogation room, fuming with confusion. He had no idea why he was here this morning. Braylon and Eryx had brought him in under the guise of an interrogation, and to him, it seemed absurd. "So, tell me this—why the hell did you bring me here?" Cliff snapped, irritated by the younger detective who was busy reading through a file. Braylon finally closed the file and glanced at the lawyer, who seemed just as in the dark about the situation. "Mr. Redeker, we suspect that you were the one who killed Jarrel and Claudia." "Why the hell would I kill them?" Cliff responded, genuinely puzzled. "To feed your inner beast," Eryx’s voice cut through the tension as he walked into the room, rolling up his sleeves. The two of them had yet to identify the killer, but they were following the clues they had gathered so far. "You were treated for your psychological issues as a child. You went on to become a lawyer and put on a respectable face, but somewhere deep insi
Braylon and Eryx stepped out of the investigation room. "Such a childish reason to go after her husband. Because of that, two kids lost their lives. I've never seen a case like this before," Eryx muttered, rolling his eyes in frustration. "Well, in the end, it was her love that pushed her to do all of this. I admit it's a ridiculous case, but the little trick we pulled off worked perfectly," Braylon responded. "Little trick?" Eryx asked, confused. "The hidden camera in the victim's house," Braylon explained, pointing it out as Eryx nodded in agreement. They had told Ariana that there were cameras in the house, but she had forgotten that she wore a mask while committing the murders. The anxiety she felt when she thought she had been caught led her to confess to the crime. "Forget about it, I don’t want to talk about it. There was nothing to that case, but we still wasted so much time on it. I hate myself for letting it get to this point," Eryx said, as a wave of depression took ove
"Dad, you're home! I'm so happy! You're going to stay with me, right?" Alan exclaimed as he jumped into Braylon’s arms. Braylon carefully held his son, his heart swelling with emotion. Seeing Alan's face brought both joy and pain. Did he really have to stay away from his child? The emptiness he felt when they were apart was unbearable, and the distress was a constant burden in his life. "Yes, Dad's going to stay with you. And we’re going out to dinner with Uncle Adler tomorrow night or the day after," Braylon said, gently teasing Alan's nose. The little boy giggled uncontrollably, filling Braylon’s heart with warmth. Mrs. Rhys, watching the moment, patted Braylon's shoulder, bringing him back to reality. "First, go wash up. Don't touch my baby with those dirty hands," Mrs. Rhys said, scooping Alan into her arms, causing Braylon to pout. She playfully shooed him away. With a sigh, Braylon went to his room to take a shower. Meanwhile, Mr. and Mrs. Rhys sat in the living room while Ala
Eryx stepped into his house the next morning, the old mansion that once felt like home. Mr. and Mrs. Silvester were seated in the hall, and the moment Eryx walked in, Mr. Silvester spoke with a mocking tone. “Finally, you remember you have a house.” Eryx scoffed loudly in response. The tension between them had been growing ever since the engagement was arranged. It was never the marriage he had wanted. “I came to grab my files. And this isn’t my house anymore, Mr. Silvester. The day you forced me into this marriage, you showed me exactly what kind of businessman you are—willing to sacrifice anything, even your children’s happiness, just for profit.” Mrs. Silvester approached him, trying to smooth things over. “Baby, don’t talk to your dad like that. He’s doing this for your own good.” Eryx took a step back, clearly frustrated, which hurt his mother even more. But she couldn’t bring herself to argue with her husband’s decisions. “For my good?” Eryx's voice was thick with bitternes
Three days had passed, and Eryx's team hadn't received a single case, all thanks to Adler's instructions. There was no doubt about Adler's favoritism toward Braylon's team, but no one openly acknowledged it. To the outside world, it simply seemed like Braylon's team was highly efficient, completing their cases swiftly and without delays. It was a calm Sunday morning. Alan and Braylon were eagerly preparing to go out with Adler. Alan, in particular, was buzzing with excitement at the thought of spending time with his uncle. As they made their way downstairs, they found breakfast already prepared. Everyone settled into their usual seats around the table. Mrs. Rhys served the food to her son and grandson, her smile growing as she watched the joy on their faces. “So, what’s the reason behind those big grins on your faces?” Mr. Rhys asked, pausing to take a sip of the soup specially prepared to suit his strict diet. “Today, we’re going to meet Uncle Adler! Dad said we can spend the whol
“Are you hiding something from me, Adler? You know very well you can’t hide anything from me,” Braylon said firmly, his serious expression making it clear that he had already uncovered a part of the truth. Alder remained silent, his face reflecting a mixture of emotions that Braylon couldn’t entirely decipher. “Is this about the Black Hawk rebel gang? Is that why you chose to meet us in a public place?” Braylon asked, his words hitting like a hammer, leaving Alder momentarily breathless. He should have anticipated Braylon piecing it all together before taking any action. “Most likely,” Alder admitted with a resigned sigh. “I don’t think private places are safe for our meetings anymore. If we’re alone, we’d be easy targets. Public places like this are safer—they wouldn’t dare tarnish their master’s reputation, even abroad.” Braylon sighed as well, the weight of the situation settling heavily between them. “Why are you taking such risks for me? You should be prioritizing your own saf
Eryx and Braylon walked toward a secluded area, still unaware that they had drifted far from the crowd. Braylon grabbed Eryx’s hand, and the latter tried to pull away, but this time Braylon didn’t give him a chance. "Can you fucking hear me out? Why are you doing this to me?" Braylon shouted, his frustration boiling over. "Hear you out? He’s calling you 'baby' and you want me to hear you out? Damn it! I thought I could see things clearly, but nope... I was just blinded by love!" Eryx shouted back, his anger flaring. But deep down, he wanted to clarify things. He just couldn’t reveal the truth—at least, not yet. "So you have that little trust in me?" Braylon scoffed. "Eryx, I thought you’d believe me, but look at you." "Believe you? Of course, I did—until now. You’ve never tried to tell me anything until now, and you know I could help you. So why are you pushing me away?" Eryx sneered, his frustration matching Braylon’s. It felt like they were on the verge of a breaking point, ready
It was like a strong storm finished in their life. Braylon almost lost his sanity, when Alan was kidnapped. It had been two weeks, and everything had happened. Alan was coming out of the trauma slowly, Eryx often came home to cheer up his son. He wasn't going to school, not yet. "He must be tired. But he is strong, don't worry." Eryx squeezed Braylon's shoulder, pulling him close to Eryx. Braylon just hummed in response; eyes gazing at the sleeping figure of Alan softly. "Sister Zaneta came home to invite us to her wedding, but Alan didn't talk to her and ran into his room. She was suspicious about it, but I managed to lie to her." Braylon's eyes brimmed with tears, chest congested with a feeling of agony. "It's okay, he needs some time." Braylon nodded. "Alex and others came home but left just before you came. Alan seemed quite active today." "He will get out of this trauma soon. He is just a kid and it was too much for him. Just believe him." Braylon inclined his head in ag
"I am coming with you two," "No... you aren't going anywhere," Eryx sternly said, refusing Braylon's request. "He is my son. I'll come with you two. If you two refuse me, I don't hesitate to kill myself," okay, this was the underrated threatening from Braylon, but what they didn't expect was his hands were holding a knife. Eryx and Adler exchanged a worried glance, their faces tight with concern. Eryx stepped forward, his voice low but firm. “Braylon, I know how much this means to you, but it’s too dangerous. You need to stay safe. He is my son as well. Don't do anything stupid.” Braylon’s eyes flashed with anger. “I’m not staying behind while my son is out there. I’m coming with you, whether you like it or not.” Adler sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “We can’t protect you and search for Alan at the same time. You’ll slow us down.” “I won’t be a burden,” Braylon snapped. “I’m a trained detective, remember? I can handle myself.” Eryx glanced at Adler, seeing the
"Let's go home," Adler softly exclaimed. Braylon shook his head denying the offer. "We can't stay here, baby. We will surely find Alan, but for that, you have to be strong, right?" Eryx caressed his love's hair. Adler and Eryx had finally managed to convince Braylon to leave the bustling mall, where they had spent an hour under police surveillance. Adler informed his members before leaving the mall. It had been a long and exhausting day for everyone, and the last thing they wanted was to add to the worries of the Rhys couple. So, they decided to take Braylon to Adler's apartment, a place where Braylon could be safe for now. Adler's apartment was a haven after the chaos he had experienced. Adler went to cook something for Braylon. Eryx followed Adler. "Do you want anything?" Adler asked while searching for the ingredients. "Where is the first aid kit? I will treat his wound." Eryx uttered. "In the bedroom. Second cupboard on the left," Adler instructed. With a hum, E
It was another day, and Alan was once again brimming with excitement. He had been begging Braylon to take him outside ever since they had fun in the amusement park. And it was his demand since Braylon hung out with his friend and refused to bring him with them. “Please, Dad, can we go out today? Please?” Alan had asked that morning, his big brown eyes wide with hope. Braylon sighed, knowing he couldn't resist his son's plea. “Alright, alright, baby. Let’s go to the mall. But you have to promise to behave, okay?” Alan’s face lit up with a huge grin. “I promise! I’ll be the best behaved!” He ran to get changed, and Braylon stood there adoring his son. With that settled, Braylon got them both ready, making sure Alan had his favourite sneakers on and a small backpack with snacks and a water bottle. They headed out, the sun shining brightly as they walked to the nearby mall. Mr and Mrs Rhys hadn't returned from the business trip so He just texted them about the outing. At the mall, Al
The day had finally arrived. Eryx and Braylon had been planning the outing, and now it was happening. Braylon called Alex and Revilla, and then he contacted Adler and Franklyn to join them. Even though Braylon informed them, once again Eryx called them to confirm the outing. Alex and Revilla were happy about this little outing. In their group, they were only staying in the work since Eryx and Braylon quit. It was their dream job, but when their life took an unexpected turn, they had to choose a path that was not even their profession; that kinda hurts them, though. They hadn't seen each other for the past few weeks, and this little outing to the hotpot to the old place was what they needed. Eryx was the one to pick everyone from their place, Braylon's excitement bubbled in his face. It was quite hard for Braylon to convince Alan since the younger was stubborn to join them. Braylon wasn't selfish in not taking his son with him. It was quite a remote place; Alan would be uncomfort
In just one month, Alan would turn five, and today was the day Eryx and Braylon had planned to enrol him in the school. Alan’s excitement was visible; he had been homeschooled by his grandparents until now, and the expectation of attending a regular school with other children thrilled him. Braylon wanted Alan to experience school life. He argued with his parents to let Alan study in the school rather than homeschool. At last, the Rhys couple decided to accept the decision Braylon made. Alan was mature for his age and understood how Braylon was struggling and many other things, which was something both Eryx and Braylon were proud of, mostly Braylon. Eryx, Braylon, and Alan arrived at the school. The school building loomed large and renovated, compared to other kids' schools, with children’s laughter echoing from the playground. Alan’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the new atmosphere, excitement pooled in him. He was squealing with joy inside, obviously. It was new for him. Braylo
Amy burst through the cabin door with a loud bang, startling Mr. Silvester immediately looked up from his desk. His secretary stood behind Amy, her face flushed and her hands wringing nervously, unable to stop Amy from intruding into the CEO's office. With a wave, Mr Silvester signalled for his secretary to leave them alone. She hesitated for a moment, then nodded and quietly closed the door behind her, leaving the two of them in the room. Mr. Silvester calmly gazed at Amy's angry face. She stood there, her fists clenched at her sides, her eyes blazing with fury. “How could you do this?” she shouted, her voice echoing in the spacious office. “You just broke off the merger without any warning!” Mr. Silvester leaned back in his chair, “I had to, Miss Richardson,” he said evenly. “My son wasn’t fond of the decision.” Amy let out a derisive laugh. “Oh, please! Don’t try to pin this on your homo son. You were okay with the merger, regardless of how much he opposed it. This was your de
The dinner was nice, they talked randomly, not much yet warm and comfortable. After that, Alan was soon sound asleep. After the dinner, making Alan sleep, Eryx prepared to leave. He got up from his seat and began to say his goodbyes; Mr and Mrs Rhys went to their room after concluding their conversation, but Braylon hesitated. “Are you sure you have to go?” Braylon asked with a tiny amount of desperation in his voice. “It’s late, and you could stay here tonight. You know, it's quite comfortable for you also, less travel.” Eryx smiled at how Braylon was trying to make him stay, it's cute. “I badly want to, but I really should be getting home. I have an early meeting tomorrow. Not to mention my dad; he will bury me with his endless lectures If I don't go.” Braylon stood and approached Eryx, his eyes pleading. “Please, Eryx. Just stay. It’s been so long since we’ve had a chance to spend time together. I miss you.” 'Miss you', the word did some great magic, changed Eryx's mind in a go
It had been a few days since Eryx joined his father's company. Despite his extensive tutoring in business, his role started with basic tasks like a regular employee. However, his time at the company quickly turned sour. Eryx wasn't treated like other staff. His colleagues picked on him, mocked him, and did dirty tricks to humiliate him. The primary reason was his open homosexuality, which made him a target. And the secondary reason was the post he posted online. He was disowned, that's what the people knew but if he was disowned, how could he join his father's company? They forgot to think of it. Despite the mistreatment, Eryx endured it all. His father had explicitly ordered him not to use his authority over the staff, and Eryx had accepted this condition. For the sake of his love, he decided to do anything. In the afternoon, during lunch break, Eryx sat alone in the company cafeteria, quietly eating his sandwich and texting Braylon. The only good thing was he was able to talk t