Chapter 109

8

Silence fell again. Ashley continued in a voice devoid of emotion.

"A friend of his had a new sibling, and he didn't seem to like it. When Greyson heard about it..."

<You can just get rid of it.>

Greyson whispered to his friend.

<If you don't like it, just get rid of it.>

And he told him the method he had read in a book. Saying it would be very easy since it was just a newborn baby. The friend listened to those words and carried them out. With a pillow over the newborn's face...

Dane unconsciously squeezed his eyes shut. When he slowly lifted his eyelids again, his eyes met Ashley's dry gaze.

"Fortunately, the child's parents discovered it before something serious happened, so the baby's life was saved."

<Greyson, I just did what Greyson told me to do...>

"When I asked why on earth he said such a thing to his friend, my child said this."

He couldn't hide his bitterness and muttered self-deprecatingly.

"'I was just trying to help, Papa.'"

Dane silently looked at him. As if it was as expected, Ashley asked without any change in expression.

"Do you now understand why I locked that child in the basement?"

He showed not a trace of regret.

"There's only one thing that never changes about Greyson. 'I was trying to help.' Even after repeatedly injuring his siblings under the pretext of playing with them, he still says he was just trying to help. You've experienced it too, haven't you? How dangerous the things he does are when he claims to be helping others."

On that point, Dane had nothing to say. He had experienced it directly. Not just the basement incident, but also recently when they went to rescue someone who was attempting suicide, he clearly remembered how absurd Greyson's words had been.

<You should let people do what they want to do.>

Even then, did Greyson think he was helping him?

Though feeling a headache coming on, Dane made one final rebuttal.

"Then, consulting with a professional or..."

"Do you think I haven't tried that?"

Dane had no choice but to close his mouth again. Ashley Miller was proclaiming with his whole body. That he had done everything he could.

But the result...

Ashley finally pressed his forehead with one hand. And he dredged up the worst memory.

"After teaching him that he must extract pheromones no matter what, he tried to do something to his brother."

Ashley bit his lip as if in agony. And through his clenched teeth, he roughly spat out.

"He tried to graft Chase onto a dog."

Dane froze in place. It was an idea that was impossible to conceive by common sense, but Greyson had done just that. What must the parents who witnessed it have thought? Soon after, Ashley quickly provided the answer.

"Can you understand that? Should I just soothe and comfort him, saying that this child was born with it so it can't be helped? Chase has been practically estranged from the family since then. It hasn't been long since we've even started exchanging greetings over the phone."

Unable to contain his emotions, he clenched the cigar that had been between his fingers. The bright red burning tobacco withered away with white smoke in his palm. There seemed to be a faint smell of burning flesh. He glared at Dane with a fierce gaze and ground his teeth.

"I had no choice but to teach that child, even by physical means, what actions were acceptable and what weren't. Of course, most were unacceptable actions. I did my best!"

Blood vessels stood out in Ashley's eyes. After glaring at Dane for a while, he soon withdrew his gaze and ran his remaining hand through his hair. Suddenly, he looked terribly tired.

"The fact that my children inherited my phenotype intact is a punishment for me too."

Ashley exhaled deeply as if exhausted.

"The fact that Greyson is somehow alive now without killing anyone or being killed by someone is thanks to my discipline. There are only two things I want for my children. Not to kill someone and go to prison, and to extract pheromones on time so they don't damage their brains, just like me!"

Still without any sign of regret, he warned with a resolute attitude.

"Don't be deceived by that child. Greyson is very skilled at lying. He tries to deceive even me whenever he gets the chance."

And Ashley Miller finally added.

"If you let your guard down, you'll end up dead too."

Dane couldn't say anything until then.

* * *

"It was really nice to meet you today, Dane."

Koi, who had come to the entrance with Greyson and Dane, spoke in an excited voice and then hugged him tightly. After pausing for a moment as if reluctant, Koi detached himself and looked up at Dane, entreating.

"Please take good care of Greyson."

Then Koi turned to Greyson beside him. Similarly, after hugging him tightly and letting go, Koi raised his eyes to his son. Even Dane, watching from the side, could tell it was a gaze full of love. But Ashley, standing a step away, merely paused his gaze on Dane and Greyson once each, and that was all.

"Goodbye, Daddy. Papa."

Greyson, who had greeted them as they got into the car, waved his hand. While Koi stuck his head out of the open car window and waved his arm with all his might, the car seemed to drive away and soon disappeared from sight.

Watching the trace of the departing car, Dane finally exhaled the breath that had been building up. Suddenly, fatigue washed over him. He had heard too many stories today. Becoming so thoroughly acquainted with another family's intimate stories was absolutely not something he had wished for.

How did it come to this?

Though he suddenly felt gloomy, it was already too late. Dane already felt as if he was submerged up to his neck in a swamp. With a bitter feeling, he turned his head and immediately met Greyson's eyes. As if he had been waiting for Dane to turn his head and look at him, he smiled brightly.

Is that expression real?

Dane wondered again. He couldn't tell how much was acting and how much was real. Still confused, Dane looked at Greyson.

No, stop it.

A warning bell rang from deep within his heart. Don't step in any further, you've already come in too deep.

I know that well.

Greyson tilted his head to one side. As if to ask what he was thinking.

"Greyson."

Don't.

"Yes."

Greyson answered immediately. Even while hearing the siren blaring madly in his head, Dane moved his lips.

"There's one more condition I need for staying in this house."

Greyson blinked and waited. Dane continued slowly in a languid tone.

"From now on, when you're with me, show expressions as you feel them. If you don't know what expression to make, that's fine too. You can just be blank. Don't mechanically create expressions thinking this is how you should look, understand?"

Greyson didn't answer immediately. He just looked at Dane with the corners of his mouth raised. He clearly didn't understand what Dane was saying. Dane pointed it out right away.

"Yes, just like now."

Seeing Greyson hesitate, he added an explanation.

"If you don't know, it's okay not to make any expression at all. You don't need to force yourself to smile."

The corners of Greyson's mouth didn't move easily. Dane stubbornly stared at the raised corners of his lips, which seemed fixed in place. Until they slowly came down as he hesitated and wavered.

"Okay."

To him, who had finally made an awkward expression, Dane smiled and said.

"Well done."

At his action of patting his arm, Greyson just stood there blinking his eyes. But Dane didn't drag out the time and turned around first to enter the mansion. As Greyson just watched his back, Dane suddenly stopped in his tracks with an "Ah," as if he had just remembered something.

"There's one more thing."

He spoke without waiting for Greyson's response.

"From now on, if you have a situation where you want to help someone, ask me first. Don't judge and act on your own, understand?"

After a pause, Greyson nodded. Dane nodded back once and then turned around, walking across the hall. Greyson watched as he bounded up the stairs, taking two or three steps at a time, and reached the floor with the bedroom in an instant. And even after Dane had completely disappeared from sight, he remained standing in the same place without moving.

The cool yet gentle night breeze brushed past Greyson's ear as if caressing it.