CHAPTER 15: THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE II
1309 Words
Before breakfast the next morning, the Blackwood Estate felt strangely peaceful.
Sunlight spilled through the tall windows, washing the marble hallways in a warm golden glow. Outside, the gardens were already alive with the sound of birds, as if yesterday had never happened.
On one side Nate's bed...
Daniel was still asleep.
Or at least, he had every intention of staying that way.
A knock came from the door.
"Young Master Nate?"
The maid's gentle voice drifted through the room.
"Breakfast is ready."
Daniel groaned dramatically, burying his face deeper into the pillow.
"...Tell breakfast I'll see it next week."
Nate couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips.
"I don't think breakfast takes appointments."
Daniel cracked one eye open.
"It should."
Another knock came.
"Young Master Nate?"
"We'll be right there," Nate answered.
After getting dressed, the two of them headed downstairs together.
The dining room was already prepared.
Marcus sat at the head of the table with his usual newspaper.
Eleanor was sipping tea.
Derrick had already finished reading the morning reports placed beside his plate.
As Nate and Daniel entered, Eleanor's warm smile immediately faded.
Her eyes settled on the faint bruise still visible on Nate's cheek.
"Oh, dear..."
She reached across the table and gently touched his face.
"Does it still hurt?"
Nate offered a small smile.
"It's much better."
Eleanor looked unconvinced.
"I heard about what happened yesterday."
She turned toward Derrick.
"So?"
Her voice remained calm.
Far too calm.
"What have you done about it?"
"Are we simply going to let some nobody disrespect our family?"
The room became quiet.
Derrick calmly set down his coffee cup.
"Nate and I have already reached an agreement."
Eleanor blinked.
"You have?"
Derrick nodded once.
"We've decided how this matter will be handled."
Eleanor slowly looked toward Nate.
Nate simply met her eyes...
Then gave the smallest nod before quietly returning to his breakfast.
That seemed to answer her question.
She leaned back in her chair with a quiet sigh.
"I suppose that's enough for now."
Marcus slowly folded his newspaper.
Placed it neatly beside his plate.
Looked directly at Derrick.
"...Good."
That was all he said.
Then he picked the newspaper back up and continued reading as though nothing had happened.
Daniel stared between father and son.
"...You people have the shortest family meetings I've ever seen."
No response.
Daniel sighed dramatically.
"If my family communicated like this, we'd save at least three hours every Sunday."
A faint chuckle escaped Eleanor before she could stop herself.
Even Nate smiled.
Marcus continued reading.
Derrick calmly resumed his coffee.
Daniel looked around the table.
"...Tough crowd."
Breakfast continued peacefully after that.
When everyone had finished eating, Nate and Daniel stood.
"We should get going," Nate said.
Derrick rose as well.
"I'll walk you out."
The four of them made their way toward the entrance.
Adam was already waiting beside the black sedan.
As Nate reached the car, he paused.
He turned toward Adam.
"I forgot to ask..."
Adam looked up.
"...Did you get punished because of yesterday?"
Adam hesitated.
Then he shook his head.
"No, Young Master Nate."
"First Young Master understood the circumstances."
"He reminded me not to repeat the same mistake."
Relief visibly crossed Nate's face.
"...I'm glad."
Daniel folded his arms.
"So the scary boss gave you a motivational speech instead of a beating?"
Adam remained perfectly straight.
"...Something like that."
Daniel nodded thoughtfully.
"I was hoping for at least one dramatic whipping scene."
Silence.
Adam didn't react.
Derrick didn't react.
Marcus had already gone back inside.
Nate covered his face.
"...Please stop talking."
Daniel grinned.
"I make no promises."
A few moments later, the sedan pulled away from the estate.
As it disappeared through the gates, Nate glanced back.
Derrick was still standing at the entrance.
Watching them leave.
For a brief second...
Their eyes met.
Neither of them smiled.
Neither of them waved.
Yet somehow...
The silence between them felt different from yesterday's.
...
The university campus was unusually quiet when they arrived.
Not silent.
Just...
Different.
Students looked at Nate.
Then quickly looked away.
Small conversations stopped whenever he walked past.
The whispers had disappeared.
Somehow...
That felt even stranger.
Daniel leaned closer.
"...This is creepy."
"I know."
Adam quietly followed a few steps behind them.
His eyes moved across the campus with practiced precision.
Watching.
Listening.
Remembering.
As they entered the classroom, several students glanced toward Nate before lowering their heads.
Nobody laughed.
Nobody whispered.
Nobody took out a phone.
Instead...
A small group slowly approached him.
There were three of them.
One Alpha.
Two Betas.
The Alpha cleared his throat awkwardly.
"...Nate."
Nate looked up.
"Yes?"
The young man rubbed the back of his neck.
"We... wanted to ask if we could talk to you after class."
Nate frowned.
"...About what?"
The three students exchanged uncertain glances.
"We'll explain later."
Before Nate could ask another question, they quietly returned to their seats.
Daniel blinked.
"...That wasn't suspicious at all."
Nate could only shake his head.
"I have no idea what's going on."
Behind them...
Adam remained silent.
He had a feeling.
A very strong feeling.
But until he knew for certain...
He said nothing.
...
Lunch arrived sooner than Nate expected.
The three of them sat together in the cafeteria once again.
Nate absentmindedly pushed rice around his plate.
His appetite still hadn't returned.
Daniel, on the other hand, seemed determined to eat enough for all three of them.
"You know," he mumbled through a mouthful of food, "stress burns calories."
Nate looked at his overflowing tray.
"I don't think that's how it works."
"It does if I believe hard enough."
Before Nate could answer...
A voice echoed across the cafeteria.
"Everyone..."
Conversations gradually died away.
Students turned toward the entrance.
Angela Trinz stood there.
Her friends lined up behind her.
Nate slowly looked up.
What now...?
Without another word...
Angela began walking toward him.
One step.
Then another.
The entire cafeteria watched.
She stopped directly in front of Nate.
Nate frowned.
"...Angela?"
Instead of answering...
She slowly lowered herself onto both knees.
A collective gasp swept through the cafeteria.
One after another...
The girls behind her did the same.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Angela lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."
The words sounded heavy.
Forced.
"I falsely accused you."
"I humiliated you."
"I struck you."
"I'm asking for your forgiveness."
Complete silence filled the room.
Nate stared at her in disbelief.
"...What are you doing?"
For the briefest moment...
Angela's polite expression cracked.
Hatred flashed across her face.
Gone just as quickly as it appeared.
"I'm apologizing."
Whispers immediately spread through the cafeteria.
"What...?"
"I thought he attacked her."
"Then the video..."
"Was it fake?"
"Who made her do this?"
No one knew.
Least of all Nate.
He slowly stood.
"...Angela..."
She never looked up.
Nate let out a quiet breath before turning away.
"I don't want this."
Without another word, he walked out of the cafeteria.
Daniel hurried after him.
Adam followed close behind.
The whispers continued long after they were gone.
Outside the cafeteria, Nate stopped walking.
"I need to make a call."
Daniel nodded.
"We'll wait here."
Nate took out his phone and dialed Derrick's number.
The call connected after only two rings.
"...Young Master Nate."
It wasn't Derrick.
It was Damien.
Nate hesitated.
"...Can I speak to Derrick?"
A brief pause followed.
"First Young Master asked me to inform you that he'll see you when you return home."
"...I see."
The line disconnected.
Nate lowered the phone and stared at the screen for a moment.
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"...Did your husband just refuse your call?"
Nate slipped the phone back into his pocket with a tired sigh.
"...Apparently."
Daniel scratched his head.
"I don't know if that's romantic or terrifying."
Adam quietly looked away.
He already knew the answer.
It was both.
- Writer
