CHAPTER 36: THE OLD MAN

It didn’t take Nathan long to discover the truth.

That night felt unfamiliar to him. His brothers were busy with their own activities, making him wonder what their lives would be like if he weren’t there. He remembered Nael saying that because of him, they were home more often.

Nathan felt like they were trying too hard. On the other hand, he didn’t know if living in a wealthy family would actually make him as happy as he imagined.

He pictured Nael’s life since he was a baby: surrounded by servants and bodyguards, living in a luxurious house, having so much money. All Nael had to do was point a finger, and anything he wanted would appear in front of him.

Nathan had none of that, so it felt like something he wanted... something he envied.

But what if that life wasn’t actually making him happy?

Nathan shook his head. How could someone surrounded by so much wealth be unhappy?

He stood in front of the large living-room window, staring at the garden beside the mansion, now covered in thick snow. His breath fogged the glass.

The atmosphere was so quiet and empty... very different from the orphanage. At this hour, he was sure the kids there were chatting together. With Christmas approaching, they would be busy dreaming about what they’d find in their socks.

He never thought the simple thing he used to hate every year would feel warm to remember tonight.

He missed that atmosphere.

Suddenly—

"Nathan! Look over here! We got a Christmas tree!" Nael shouted from the front terrace.

Nathan turned to look. Nael stood at the doorway, waving for him to come.

Nathan frowned. Christmas was in a few days, and they were only now getting the tree? Besides, he never cared about joining. He hated

Christmas.

But Nael didn’t accept his refusal. He grabbed Nathan’s hand.

"No!" Nathan refused, making Nael stop immediately.

The boy looked confused. "Just come look. We got a big Christmas tree!"

"Have you never seen a Christmas tree?"

"You can see them anywhere. But now you can decorate it however you like!" Nael said, excited as ever.

They still needed to buy decorations, but Alexander had prepared some simple ones to fill the tree for now. He was sure his older brothers would go out later to buy more, since they still had another Christmas tree to put inside the house.

Nael looked so enthusiastic.

Nathan didn’t understand why. He wasn’t a little kid anymore who’d jump at the sight of a Christmas tree.

He insisted he didn’t want to go. Finally, Nael gave up and went outside alone. His siblings said they’d decorate it after dinner with Antonio, but he couldn’t wait. He would just watch the guards set up the big tree and arrange the light cables.

Louis entered the mansion to get the decorative lights when he saw Nathan refusing Nael’s invitation. He approached him.

"You don’t want to go outside?" Louis asked.

Nathan shook his head. "What for?"

"Well, they’ll decorate it later. But I’m sure Nael would be happy if you—"

"I’m fine," Nathan cut him off.

Louis took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. This is actually the first time we’ve had our own Christmas tree in seventeen years. So I understand why Nael’s so excited."

Nathan turned from the garden and stared at Louis. "Why?"

It didn’t make sense. They weren’t lacking money.

Footsteps interrupted Louis’s answer. Nathan turned around and saw Alexander walking toward them in a black sweater.

"We never put up a Christmas tree because we knew you wouldn’t have a proper Christmas Eve at the orphanage," Alexander said, glancing at his watch.

Nathan frowned. "Does that make a difference? I don’t think so. Why would you do that?"

"It doesn’t make a difference. But it became an unwritten rule. No Christmas tree until you came back. So now you know why Nael is so excited this year. Join us later."

Nathan listened quietly. At least now he understood why Nael wanted to decorate so badly. Even if it still felt boring to him.

A few moments later, Nael ran in.

"Grandpa!! Grandpa’s here!!" he shouted. Seeing Alexander, he ran to him immediately.

Alexander told Louis, who was carrying the light cables, to call the others.

Nathan’s heart beat fast. He heard the roar of cars outside and saw lights that looked like a convoy.

He looked at Nael, who chose to stand behind Alexander.

Alexander stared at him seriously. "Don’t say anything unnecessary. If he asks something, just agree."

Nathan frowned. He wasn’t a puppet who had to obey everything. But Alexander looked genuinely serious. Nathan didn’t know what his grandfather was like, so staying quiet seemed safer.

His older brothers came down the stairs. Their expressions were annoyed and tired. There was no sign of happiness at all.

This was bad.

Footsteps echoed through the mansion. Nathan was surprised to see how many people were coming in. Usually Alexander had many bodyguards, but Antonio brought even more. They immediately spread throughout the mansion.

Some of them exchanged nods with the guards already inside.

It was overwhelming.

Then the long-awaited figure appeared. The old man Nathan assumed was Antonio stepped through the door with a sharp gaze. One hand held a cigar, the other a cane that made a clicking sound on the floor.

It would be a mistake to think he was weak. Nathan had no idea what the diamond-tipped cane was for. The old man wasn’t limping. His steps were slow but firm.

Nathan swallowed hard. He wanted to hide behind Alexander, too.

Antonio stopped in front of Alexander. "How long has it been since you last called me?"

Nathan swallowed again when he heard the man’s loud voice. When he was younger, it must have been thunderous. Even now, it was strong despite a slight tremble from age.

Alexander smiled a little. "You know I’ve been busy. Why didn’t you call me first?"

"Tsk. Is this how you treat your elders?! I heard Malvin was hospitalized! Why didn’t anyone tell me?" he snapped.

Alexander took a deep breath. Someone must have told him. But if Antonio didn’t know it was all fake, then it probably wasn’t his main bodyguard or his younger siblings—it was likely a servant.

Better if the old man never found out the truth.

"He’s fine. You don’t need to worry," Alexander replied.

Antonio snorted and looked between Nael and Nathan. "Ah, my other grandson is back. Which one is it?"

He narrowed his eyes, trying to tell them apart.

Alexander shook his head internally. The twins had obvious differences, including height, but he knew his grandfather couldn’t tell them apart.

"He’s Nathan. This is Nael," Alexander said, pointing.

Antonio nodded. "Ah yes, Nael. Why are you so big now?"

Alexander replied dryly, "You saw him a month ago. How could you forget?"

Nael swallowed nervously and smiled awkwardly.

Antonio laughed menacingly. He looked at Nathan. "So you’re finally back," he said, patting Nathan’s head several times.

Nathan grimaced but didn’t dare move.

Antonio stared at him intensely for a long moment, making Nathan hold his breath. The man’s gaze was terrifying.

"So you’re the one who ran away and hurt Malvin," he said.

Nathan swallowed, panic rising at the man’s chuckles.

He looked at Alexander as Antonio walked past him toward the sofa.

A strange and frightening old man.

Nathan had just let out a tiny breath of relief when the old man called him over.