Chapter 139

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"Sorry for visiting suddenly."

Koi showed a bright smile with a face clearly showing fatigue.

"I thought I'd stop by briefly on the way back from France. I won't stay long."

Ashley just looked at his son without saying anything. In fact, he had many things he wanted to say, but he kept his mouth shut. This was because Koi had repeatedly urged and warned him right up until they came here.

<Even if this is the last time, it's fine. Let's trust Greyson one more time, let's just encourage him.>

He couldn't ignore his earnest plea. Even while thinking it was futile, perhaps he too was inwardly hoping.

"I'm glad I could see your face, you're doing well. Has anything happened in the meantime?"

"No, nothing. ...Would you like some tea?"

The latter words felt reluctant. At this fact, Ashley hesitated. Since he had strictly taught his son to speak and act according to situations, his son had always said and done predetermined things. But what was this strange feeling? If he had followed what he was taught, Greyson should have cheerfully smiled and made the offer.

But the grinning, smiling face was exactly the same as the son he had always seen. Leaving the confused Ashley behind, Koi shook his head.

"No, I'll leave soon. I brought gifts for you and Dane..."

"Gifts?"

At Greyson's question, Koi nodded and received one of the two boxes Ashley was holding, then held it out to his son.

"This is yours. Open it when you're alone."

Then he looked around behind Greyson and asked.

"Where's Dane? Hasn't he come yet?"

"Ah..."

Again.

This time Ashley could tell for certain. His son's reluctant appearance.

...What's going on here?

As he watched with mild shock, suddenly a sharp whistle sound was heard. When everyone looked up simultaneously, they saw a man leaning against the stair railing.

"Dane."

When Koi called his name happily, Dane, who had been whistling with his thumb and index finger rounded in his mouth, waved his hand with his usual indifferent face. And before anyone could stop him, Koi ran up the stairs first to greet him.

"It's been a while, have you been well? I missed you!"

Ashley and Greyson looked up with unpleasant faces at the sight of Koi embracing Dane and Dane patting Koi's back.

It can't be helped. Ashley thought. Koi had tremendous fondness for Dane from the moment he first met him. Even to the point of keeping secrets from himself.

Until now, Koi's secrets from Ashley were at most birthday gifts or similar events. They were all related to Ashley, so they were things that would be revealed in just a day or two, or trivial friend secrets that didn't need to be known. So he hadn't been particularly hurt or curious, but this time was different.

At the time, he was very hurt emotionally, but he soon learned the reason.

Koi had confessed that he felt a bond with Angel as soon as he met her in the past. Judging from that, the reason he treated that Dane Striker so familiarly was ultimately one thing.

It must be the phenotype.

Ashley came to a cold conclusion. Thinking that way, everything fit together. So even though he wasn't very pleased, he was planning to just leave it alone...

Suddenly Greyson moved. He was puzzled to see his son urgently running up the stairs three or four steps at a time. As he followed the movement with his gaze, he saw him reach where Dane and Koi were in an instant and forcibly push his body between the two.

"I'll prepare tea, so won't you come to my room? Papa too!"

The latter words were clearly added reluctantly. Ashley was surprised once again. My goodness, he couldn't believe it. His son was jealous.

"Ash!"

Ashley, who had been staring blankly upward, came to his senses at the sound calling him. Koi was waving his hand, telling him to come up quickly. Only then did he return to reality and walk up the stairs. Koi came down a few steps and took the gift Ashley had been holding until then, handing it to Dane.

"It's a gift. I hope you like it."

"Well, thank you."

Dane's answer was indifferent, but Koi still couldn't hide his joy. Greyson, who had looked at both alternately, quickly spoke up.

"Then you two, let's go to my room. It's over there. Dane, sleep well. See you tomorrow!"

Greyson, who had quickly added his farewell, began walking ahead. Dane looked at the family moving away with an expressionless face, then leisurely headed to his room with the gift Koi had given him.

Even while heading to the room following his son's guidance, Ashley still felt bewildered. What am I seeing right now?

They sat side by side at the tea table in his room and waited until Greyson returned with tea. To Ashley, who was lost in thought organizing what he had seen and felt in his mind, Koi asked.

"What are you thinking about so deeply?"

At the face asking while affectionately holding his hand, Ashley sighed and honestly confessed.

"I was mulling over what Greyson said and did today."

Koi looked at him with sparkling eyes.

"Right? Something has definitely changed, right? Huh?"

If even the obtuse Koi had noticed.

In this case, he couldn't just be suspicious. Ashley readily nodded.

"It might be Dane Striker's influence."

"Anyway, our child is feeling something and reacting!"

Koi raised his voice, jumping with joy.

"Now you'll trust Greyson, right? Huh? As I said, you'll trust and watch over him, right?"

"...That's why I came here."

"Thank you, Ash."

Koi called his name in an excited voice and added.

"Let's go back and slowly think about what Greyson needs."

Just as they were smiling and kissing, there was a knock and then Greyson opened the door.

"It's herbal tea. I thought you might be tired."

To his son, who was smiling and setting down the teacups, Koi greeted with a bright smile.

"Thank you, Greyson. You really are a considerate child."

He always said that, knowing it was just mechanical behavior learned by rote. Even though Koi had nearly died eating cake his son made, he continued to accept food from his children without hesitation afterward. Though Ashley had to check the food first.

This time too, only after Ashley drank the herbal tea and put it down did he finally bring the teacup to his mouth. As the warm tea spread through his body, he felt his fatigue disappearing. Feeling his mouth naturally relax, he was putting down the teacup when something suddenly occurred to him.

"Come to think of it, weren't you using the room next to this one?"

When Koi, who realized that the room Greyson was currently using had changed, asked, Greyson answered with a grin.

"Yes, I switched with Dane. That room has a much better view."

"You made a concession, that's admirable."

Koi admired and quickly kicked Ashley's foot under the table. Ashley opened his mouth with an expressionless face.

"You considered another person. Well done."

"You gave the best room to Dane, right?"

When Koi immediately chimed in, Greyson smiled brightly. At his expression, which Ashley was seeing for the first time, Ashley blinked in surprise, and Greyson said.

"Instead, I can use this connected room. Look, I can meet Dane through this window. Like Romeo and Juliet. Of course, Dane is Juliet."

At that moment, Ashley stopped moving. The color drained from his face in an instant, but the two didn't notice.

Only Burnice knew how much Ashley detested Romeo and Juliet. Even she understood to some extent because she had been the previous generation's secretary. She had directly witnessed how the previous generation, Dominic, had dealt with his 'Juliet.'

But others had no idea of this fact. Even though it was just a coincidence, when that name came from Greyson's mouth, Ashley felt his heart grow cold.

"Ash?"

Koi, who belatedly noticed him frozen without saying anything, called his name in puzzlement. When he came to his senses, Greyson and Koi were looking at Ashley. He hurriedly composed his expression and brought the teacup to his mouth. At his seemingly uncomfortable reaction, Koi spoke without understanding.

"It's a romantic story, but Greyson, Romeo and Juliet has a sad ending. How about changing to a couple that ends happily?"

"Hmm."

That made sense. After thinking for a moment, Greyson soon snapped his fingers with a "snap" sound.

"How about Catherine and Heathcliff?"

At his son's suggestion, Koi fell into serious contemplation with an "umm."

"Well, I don't think those two were happy either."

"That's not true. After Catherine dies, Heathcliff even digs up her grave, right? It means they were lovers who stayed together even in death."

Greyson's shining eyes even felt mad. When Koi looked back at Ashley in confusion, Ashley, who had returned to his usual self, nodded.

"That sounds reasonable. Let's go with Catherine and Heathcliff."

In fact, as long as it wasn't Juliet, anyone was fine. Having regained his composure, he emptied the remaining tea and spoke.

"It's late. We should head back."

"Ah, then let me greet Dane. I have something to talk about..."

"Do that."

At Koi's words, Ashley nodded. In fact, he too had something to say to Greyson. After Koi left the room, Ashley was left alone with Greyson. Suddenly, a cold silence descended.