CHAPTER 61: BEFORE THE FIELD TRIP!

The afternoon sun was dipping low as Elias stepped out of the matching centre. He stared at the new watch on his wrist and the package in his bag, making him feel like he was carrying a secret he didn’t want. His mind was still spinning from Dr Patel’s instructions and the earlier conversation with Rowan.

About the field trip that Jace signed him up for without telling him. The thought made his stomach twist with irritation. He didn’t like being controlled, and Jace’s overbearing behaviour was starting to feel like a leash. Shaking his head, Elias decided to clear his mind with a trip to the cheap market. He needed clothes for the field trip tomorrow, and his budget was tight; his savings from his nanny salary wouldn’t stretch to boutique prices, as they were so expensive.

The market was a bustling maze of stalls, the air filled with the chatter of vendors and the smell of street food. Elias kept his hood up, blending into the crowd as he moved from stall to stall. He picked out practical items... shirts, a couple of sweatshirts, another hoodie, some pants, and even a pair of shorts. He grabbed a sturdy belt and a pair of sneakers that looked durable enough for the trip. His hands lingered over a rack of girls’ clothes, bright dresses and soft sweaters that made him think of Lila. His heart ached at the thought of his sister.

’She’d love these,’ he thought, his fingers brushing a pastel blue dress before he sighed and moved on. ’There was no point buying them now.’

By the time he left the market, his bag was heavy with purchases, and the sky was turning a deep orange. It was later than he’d planned, and he flagged down a cab to head back to the Voss estate.

After a few hours, the cab pulled up to the Voss estate. Elias paid the driver and stepped out, with the bags in his hand. The house was quiet, the windows glowing with warm light as he approached the front door. As he stepped inside, he spotted Jace in the foyer, dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, like he was about to head out.

Before Elias could say anything, Jace’s eyes locked onto him, and he rushed over, wrapping his arms around Elias in a tight hug.

"Elias!" Jace’s voice was thick with relief. "Where the hell have you been?"

Elias stiffened, caught off guard by the sudden embrace. He gently pushed Jace back, putting space between them, his brows furrowing.

"What’s going on, Jace? Why’re you acting like this?"

Jace’s face was a mix of worry and frustration. "I was worried sick, man. You were out all day, and it’s late. You didn’t call or send a text."

Elias frowned, his irritation flaring. "I’m an adult, Jace. I can stay out as late as I want. I don’t need to check in with you."

Jace’s shoulders slumped, but his eyes were still intense.

"I know, I know. I just... You could’ve called. We were all worried. My mother was asking where you were."

Elias sighed, his anger softening slightly.

"Fine. I’m sorry. I’ll call next time, okay?" He turned to head to his room, but Jace’s gaze landed on the bags in his hands.

"Whoa, you went shopping?" Jace asked, following him. "New clothes?"

Elias glanced back, his tone flat. "Yeah, as you can see."

Jace kept pace, his voice eager. "Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve bought them for you. You didn’t have to go alone."

Elias stopped, his jaw tightening as his frustration bubbled up again.

’He’s doing it again,’ he thought, feeling the weight of Jace’s need to control everything.

"Jace, I can buy my own stuff. I don’t need you to do everything for me. You’ve done enough for me,"

Jace blinked, clearly taken aback. "I know you can. I just... I was worried, alright? I want to help."

Elias forced a smile, though it felt strained.

"You’ve helped enough. I’m good." He turned and walked away, his steps quick as he headed to his room. Behind him, Jace stood in the hallway, his hands clenching into fists.

’What’s gotten into him? Why is he suddenly acting like this?’

Jace thought, a mix of relief and unease settling in his chest. Elias had been gone all day, returning late without a word. Jace’s mind raced with a multitude of thoughts.

’Should I have put a tracker on Elias’s phone?’ The thought crossed his mind, but he shook it off, muttering to himself, "Forget it. As long as he’s fine."

In his room, Elias dropped his bags on the bed and began sorting through his purchases. He neatly folded the shirts, hoodies, and pants, setting aside a few items for the field trip tomorrow. The watch on his wrist felt heavy, and the package from Dr Patel sat untouched in his bag.

He didn’t want to think about it... or the possibility of his heat hitting during the trip. When he finished unpacking, he headed to the laundry room, washing and drying his new clothes before carefully ironing them. By the time he packed his bag for the trip, it was past midnight.

Exhausted but restless, Elias decided to visit Lila before bed. Lila’s room was quiet, the only sound the steady beep of her monitors. He sat beside her bed, taking her hand.

"Hey, Lila," he whispered, his voice soft. "I’m going on a school trip tomorrow, so I won’t be here for a bit. But I’ll be back soon, okay? You just... keep fighting." His throat tightened, and he squeezed her hand before leaving, his heart heavy.

Back in his room, he collapsed onto his bed as his tiredness pulled him into a fitful sleep.

.

.

Meanwhile, across the city, Viktor Drago’s car crawled through heavy traffic, the long drive from his father’s estate dragging on. The lunch with Nikolai had been a test of patience, every word from his father a reminder of the life Viktor never wanted.

The toys and gifts Anya had sent for the twins filled his side, a small gesture that felt like another obligation. By the time he reached his own estate, the sky was dark, and exhaustion weighed on him like a heavy coat.

Gerald greeted him at the door, his expression as formal as ever.

"Welcome home, sir. The guards will bring the toys inside."

Viktor nodded, rubbing his temple. "Good. Where are the twins?"

"In the game room, sir," Gerald said, a hint of surprise in his voice. "They’ve been there most of the evening."

Viktor’s brows lifted. The game room? Dante and Dario had been sullen and withdrawn since Elias left, their usual energy replaced by quiet sadness.

Curious, he headed to the game room, to check on them. When he pushed open the door, he found the twins sitting in front of the TV, game controllers in hand.

They weren’t their usual loud, argumentative selves... just silently playing, their eyes fixed on the screen. Viktor could tell they were only playing to stay awake, likely waiting for him.

He stepped into the room and sat between them on the couch, his voice soft.

"Hey, you two. Mind if I join?"

The twins flinched at his voice, then dropped their controllers and threw their arms around him, hugging him tightly.

"Dad!" Dante said, his voice muffled against Viktor’s shoulder.

"We missed you," Dario added, his small hands clutching Viktor’s jacket.

Viktor’s heart softened, and he hugged them back. "I missed you too. Were you waiting up for me?"

They nodded, their faces serious. "Yeah," Dante said. "We wanted to see you."

Viktor smiled, ruffling their hair.

"I could tell. Come on, let’s get you to bed. I’ve got something for you first, though." He led them to their room, showing them the toys and gifts from Anya. The twins’ eyes lit up with excitement as they sorted through the pile.

"Thanks, Dad!" Dario said, clutching a new action figure. "Can we send Anya a thank-you note?"

"Already done," Viktor said, his voice warm. "Now, it’s late. Time for bed."

As he tucked them in, Dante’s voice piped up, small and hesitant. "Dad... is Nanny coming back?"

Viktor’s chest tightened, the question hitting harder than he expected. He forced a calm smile. "Don’t worry about him, okay? He’ll come back one day. For now, you two need to focus on being strong. Eat well, study hard, so you can protect him if he does."

The twins nodded, their eyes glassy but determined. "Okay, Dad," Dario said, pulling the covers up.

Viktor watched them settle in, his heart heavy. He hated lying to them, hated the uncertainty of whether Elias would ever return. As he left their room, he groaned in frustration, running a hand through his hair. The day had been too long, and his father’s words still echoed in his mind...

’If you keep dragging your feet, Elias will end up in someone else’s arms.’

In his room, Viktor slipped out of his jacket and headed for the shower, the hot water doing little to ease the tension in his shoulders. As he stepped out, towel around his waist, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. He glanced at the screen to stare at the caller’s ID. It was a guy he’d known for years but never considered a friend. Nathan was persistent, always calling at the worst times, and Viktor knew ignoring him would only lead to more calls.

With a sigh, he answered. "Hello, Nathan."