WHERE LOVE LIVES

CHAPTER TWO

‎THE RESCUE

‎"What the hell is going on here?!" Miller’s voice boomed again.

‎Harper jolted back, snapping his head around toward the sound of the authority in that voice. He instantly paled.

‎"U-Uncle Miller..." Harper stammered, completely blustered.

‎"Harper."

‎"Yes, Uncle?"

‎"I do not want to repeat myself," Miller said, his eyes drilling into him. "What is going on here?"

‎"Nothing, Uncle," Harper lied quickly, trying to force a casual smile. "It's just a joke between brothers."

‎"A joke, did you say?" Miller's voice dropped to a deadly, dangerous quiet. "Was that joke the reason why your parents just stood at the door and lied to me? Why they claimed Andy was fast asleep and refused to let me see him? Just so I wouldn’t witness this?"

‎"Uncle, it’s really not what you think..."

‎"Not what I think, huh? What did you think I was thinking?" Miller growled, taking a heavy step closer to Harper.

‎Before he could do anything, Andy suddenly stepped between them, his hands still full of bags. "Dad, what are you doing here?"

‎Hearing the word 'Dad,' Miller turned his gaze away from Harper to look at his son, and then past him to the family of three now standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the dark.

‎"Mason, I took you in as a brother," Miller said, his voice trembling with a mixture of heartbreak and pure rage. "I gave you a house, a car, and a top position at my company. I paid you a million for a stipend every single week under one condition: just look after my son for me. And you turned him into a maid? A punching bag? Is this how you repay my kindness?"

‎He scoffed, the betrayal cutting deep. "Whatever it is you are enjoying today is for his sake, but you can't even be the slightest bit grateful."

‎"Miller, I'm sorry. It's really not what you think," Mason pleaded, his confidence completely shattered as he tried to step forward. "Miller, please..."

‎Miller looked at Mason with cold, unyielding eyes. For a terrifying moment, it looked like he was ready to kill him right then and there.

‎But Anderson stepped in again, his voice soft but exhausted. "Dad, let it be. They are not worth it."

‎"Andy, Dad is sorry," Miller said, turning his full attention to his son, his voice cracking with emotion. "I brought you here trying to protect you. I didn't know I was throwing you into a wolf's den. I am so sorry."

‎"It's fine, Dad. Now that you're here, let's just leave."

‎Miller took a deep breath, steadying himself, and turned back to Mason one last time. "Mason, for what we used to be, I will let this go. But know this: from now henceforth, there is absolutely no relationship between us. Hopefully, our paths will never cross again. Because if we do, you will regret it."

‎"Son, let's go," Miller said, gently take the heavy bags from Andy and dropped them as they walked out of the house together, leaving the Masons in silence.