Episode 18

Arvan.

“So that's why you wanted me to look into Mariana Cossio? What did she do to incense you?” The person who just burst into my office may well be the only one I can deem a friend. Draco, a tech wunderkind and owner of one of the largest and most prosperous computing firms.

"weren’t you taught to knock?"

Draco: And you, will you ever greet me with a smile? I'm your only friend after all.

"what’s your point? Weren’t you supposed to be leaving the country?"

Draco: Correct, but first I wanted to drop off a present.

"hear this, I have no time for your antics."

Draco: Fine. And here I thought you’d rejoice knowing I possess every shred of data about Noah Montenegro and his endearing offspring, who oddly enough bear a striking resemblance to you... he blocked me from grabbing the documents, clearly wanting something, and it's not hard to guess what.

Draco: Tell me, wasn't this the very omega who drugged you years ago?

"plenty remains to be clarified about that affair. Call me foolish, but even with Noah owning up to the blame, I can’t bring myself to believe him."as expected, this fool started mocking me.

Draco: Wait, are you, the esteemed Arvan Daniels, admitting you made a mistake and tormented a poor omega, whose worst transgression might just have been bad luck?

"I’m admitting it, but that changes nothing. The sole reason Noah assumed responsibility is because he loathes me and cannot abide my proximity."

Draco: Arvan, are you enamored with this omega? love? The notion never even crossed my mind, but…

"I can't tell. I become a person I don't recognize when he's around"I want him to cease shunning me, to allow me redemption, a chance with my children, to be a part of all three of their lives. I yearn for everyone he despises to grovel at his feet, even if it's my own flesh and blood.

Draco: Alright, this side of you is alien to me, so that’s why you tasked me with investigating everything about your nephew? Well, at least now I know what you’ll do with the info I have. His demeanor shifted to something more solemn, a stark contrast to his usual idiotic grin, which becomes even more irksome when he’s like this.

Draco: Arvan, have you marked him? Noah carries your mark, doesn't he?... That's the only explanation for your behavior, and since you've explained all I wished to know, here is everything you asked for. The other one is about your nephew. I accepted both folders, perusing first the file on Noah and my children. It's undisputed, he's exceptional, having surpassed all odds and raising our children, and surpassing himself. They topped their generation.

My kids were born on April 12th, six years ago, a date following my own birthday ironically, I can’t recall what I was up to then.

The more I read, the more each unattended event and moment intensifies my remorse.

Draco: Isn't it odd? Such a comely omega must have hoards of alphas seeking his favor it shouldn’t have been hard to override your mark, right? I didn't stop to think; I seized him firmly by the neck.

"Noah is mine!"I can’t contain this urge. The mere thought of that potential reality infuriates me, and here he is, voicing the very torment haunting me.

Draco: Do you hear yourself? You violated him, he detests you, he fears you! And most importantly, your mark only makes his sentiments doubly torturous. Have you lost reason? All you’re accomplishing is causing him more pain. I know that, and it’s palpable; because I feel similarly anguished. I’m aware that if he were to accept me, even slightly, it would not be genuine, likely coerced by the mark that binds him to me.

Draco: You said you wished to atone, did you not? There’s but one choice...

"Silence!"I know what he intends to utter; I’ve contemplated it myself. But to follow through, it’s over. He’ll have no cause to even acknowledge my existence, and he’ll take my children away, beyond my reach. I loathe to admit it, but I fear losing them forever.

Draco: Perhaps you’ve yet to realize, they don’t belong to you, neither Noah nor your children. And I reckon they don’t even know you exist. You’re not on the register; you've got no rights over them. I’m aware. Hence my trepidation.

"but they are my children! And he’s my omega!"

Draco: That’s incorrect. Maybe biologically yours, but you do not possess the right to be their father. If you genuinely desire redemption, let him go, remove your mark. If they accept you afterward, you will truly deserve them.

"leave me be."

Draco: As you wish, but if you continue succumbing to your impulses, you'll only hurt him further. he departed, and although he's correct, it's not so simple to just accept his counsel.

I opened the other folder and smiled it contained more than I required.

Truth be told, I've always distanced myself from my family that’s simply my nature and approach to life. That is why, although I manage the company by my father's mandate, my private ventures are thrice as profitable as the entire Daniels Group combined.

And with this, Caled has just squandered the reputation and renown he siphoned from me. There’ll be no hesitation on my part. But first, he must divulge the truth to me.

This isn’t sufficient punishment, not yet. It needs something more to make it perfect.

I flung the acquired documents onto his desk; he looked up, irate, yet his expression softened upon seeing me. The entire family seems riled up by Mauricio’s debacle; if only they'd dare say it to my face.

Caled: Uncle, it’s all lies, I swear! I’d never... fear was palpable. Not only had he exploited his role in the firm to secure new suppliers, but he also had the gall to deceive us.

The not-so-incompetent-anymore man had been amassing funds for a bogus charity, squandering them on his personal sins (gambling, women, and booze).

"do you take me for a fool? The evidence is in plain sight. Daniels Group won’t foot your foolish expenses, and once this breaks, prison will claim you, and you’ll sink alone."

Caled: You can't do this, uncle, please...

"fine, confess what happened years ago at your parents' residence."

Caled: I told you before, it was Noah... I grasped him by his throat.

"unless you want to add familial exile to the charges against you, ratcheting up your prison stint to become some lunatic’s plaything, tell the truth. Noah already informed me, don’t dare lie."

Caled: Alright, I get it. Listen, Mariana despised Noah for how he charmed everyone, envious of his popularity, even earning more confidence from her father than herself, so we schemed. Our penchant for toying with omegas, I with those she loathed, and we ridiculed them amongst our friends.

That night, Mariana spiked Noah's drink. He wasn't meant to be lurking, but the drug acted slowly and he overheard us plotting against you.

"then you drugged my water."

Caled: We aimed merely to sedate you! I swear, a simple prank to besmirch your pride by leaving you sprawled in the hallway, looking intoxicated.

"and what were your plans for Noah?"

Caled: The same as always, the same you did my fist connected with impunity.

Caled: Sorry, I didn’t realize Mariana had mixed up the drugs. The one Noah drank was meant for you, and he got yours by mistake. the urge to batter him was overwhelming, but too easy a sentence. That woman hasn’t paid nearly enough either.

I departed there were matters to address. Moreover, Caled would drown under impending lawsuits without a penny to his name when he'd face his own reckoning.

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