CHAPTER 18 – Azalea

He stood in front of the shut door for a while and stared at every worker his eyes could see, like he was looking for the perfect candidate to pour his anger on.

Just then, his eyes fell on Aurora, who was walking with Luke.

They were heading towards Theodore, both of them laughing like they were having a nice time.

“Greetings, young master.” Luke greeted Theodore on seeing him as they halted.

Theodore didn’t respond, but his eyes were fixed on Aurora the whole time.

His eyes were filled with fury, cold and focused.

Aurora suspected something strong in his temper, and she was careful not to step on his toes; this was definitely not the time to annoy him like during Brynn’s absence.

Even if Brynn protected her, this would be a disastrous time if she spiked him, because, like her mother had said, blood is thicker than water.

She bowed her head.

‘You can’t call him a chicken now, Aurora, else you would be the one in soup.’ She thought to herself.

Theodore sneered and walked away.

Aurora felt the heavy cloud of anger hovering around her; she felt a bit of fear.

Brynn’s room after Theodore left was totally silent.

Bianca could even hear her heartbeat. She didn’t know if speaking at this time would be dangerous for her, as she looked at Brynn, who had already gone back to his unwinding posture.

As though Brynn couldn’t bear it anymore, “Speak up.” He said, unmoved and unhinged. “But I’d advise you to pick your words carefully.”

“If I may, my lord,” Bianca swallowed hard, “I say this with all due respect. I feel like you are doing too much.”

Brynn didn’t answer.

“You have totally neglected your family,” She said, “And all for what? All because of that thwa…”

She paused, remembering that she had been warned.

“I know that you have been trying to make up for the guilt you feel about our daughter,” She continued. “But I feel the same guilt, too, and I definitely won’t handle it like you are doing now, if our positions were switched.”

She took in a deep breath. “I find your actions disrespectful to Azalea.”

Brynn’s eyes opened once. His wolf growled in guilt.

He took a moment to calm himself. “Disrespect?” He asked coldly, “Do you want to know what I find disrespectful?” He stood up slowly, and Bianca’s heart skipped a beat.

“You, automatically thinking that my son belongs to the daughter of a witch, just because she is your friend.” He started strolling, closer to Bianca, and she stood up, her heart pounding hard, as she slowly took steps backwards.

“You, making my son think that what he feels for Ingrid is love. Grooming him to be the perfect husband for Ingrid.” He said, “And what did that do to him?”

Bianca, at this point, had touched the wall with her back, with nowhere to run to.

“My son no longer attends business meetings with me; he now thinks his world revolves around Ingrid.” He continued, “You have turned him into a mere chicken who eats the corn Ingrid throws at him.”

He halted and turned his back, and Bianca heaved a sigh of relief. “You know, at first, when he started to become distant, I thought it was because he had seen what I had done to his beloved sister, that he had refused to forgive me for it.” He turned around sharply, startling Bianca. “But then I realized that it wasn’t about what had happened that night; it was because all he wanted to do now was please Ingrid.”

He started to walk towards Bianca, “And for that, I will continue to detest that Ingrid of a woman,” Brynn said, “She doesn’t make him be a better man, she makes him a henpecked lover, and that isn’t what a true leader should be. I look at my heir and see a weak man, instead of a leader with all the qualities. The pack would need a leader when I’m gone.”

At this point, he was already brushing his body with Bianca’s.

For a while, he felt like a stranger to her, a dangerous man that she wished to get out of his grip. Feeling his dark stare, she looked away, afraid of meeting his eyes.

“Do you think your son would be up for it? I don’t think so.”

Bianca’s breaths were heavy.

“I need a wash; I can’t continue this conversation.”

He turned away and went into the bathroom.

Bianca held her chest, breathing fast as though she had just broken loose of a choke hold. She dared not speak further.

Aurora and Luke were heading to the study room,

“Mr. Luke?” Aurora called, “I know you probably know about the turmoil going on with the young master and me. Do you think I am doing too much?” She looked at him.

“Honestly speaking, I would say that it isn’t too much.” He answered, “But I believe that you know that there’s a skinny line between messing with someone and overstepping your boundary.”

“So you think I am doing too much.”

“Not too much, but I think you should tune it down a bit. He is still the young master of the house, no matter how unimportant the master makes him feel.”

“I really didn’t mean it. He started it.” She said, looking down a bit. “He refused to let me out of prison and kidnapped me, that’s the highest I could do to get even.”

“I know,” Luke said, “still, doing this with him won’t get you anywhere. You should also consider if the master is going to condone disrespect towards his son forever.”

“I guess I never thought about that part.” She bit her lip and looked at Luke, “I will be the bigger person and end the charade.”

“That’d be so wise of you.”

“Thank you for talking some sense into me.” She grinned.

“My pleasure, Lady Aurora.” He bowed.

“One more thing,” She said, “Just Aurora, and no bowing, when we are alone.”

“Noted.”

A few minutes after Aurora had been in the study room, Brynn came in and saw her reading a book.

“I was told I would find you here.” He said, walking into the room and seeing Aurora sitting and reading a book on business.

“I think you followed your fatherly instinct instead,” she said, “good to see you, father.”

“Likewise,” He sat on the chair’s handle, “You’re reading a book on business. What did you read in school?”

“Yes,” She answered, “Unfortunately for me, I ended up in a coffee shop instead of an office. Getting a job in my place, for someone like me, is like a camel passing through the eye of a needle.”

“And why’s that?”

“I don’t have a strong status in society; they pick the influential people.”

“You could work here in Oregon; you know? I could get a job in an office, you say the word.”