By Zephyria 
twenty
Tap, tap.
A faint, unpleasant noise reached his ears. Ash glanced down to identify the source of the sound. Grayson, sitting across from him, had one foot sticking out from under the small, round tea table, shaking it wildly. Ash clicked his tongue in his mouth and subtly furrowed his brow. Not again…
Grayson, noticing Ash’s frown and gaze, quickly stopped his trembling leg. Seeing his son smiling innocently as if nothing had happened, Ash said nothing.
He never used to do this. Why is he suddenly like this?
Since imitating those around him was Grayson’s specialty and way of life, this habit must also have been picked up from someone nearby. And that someone was highly likely to be Dane Striker.
“Don’t be too hard on Grayson.”
Remembering Koi’s request, Ash sighed briefly and opened his mouth.
“Don’t behave improperly.”
“Yes, Papa.”
He spoke in a gentler, more conciliatory tone than usual, but Grayson’s reaction was the same as always. Seeing him smile and answer nonchalantly, Ash felt a sense of futility. Was he really listening to him?
But the reason he was sitting here, enduring the fatigue of jet lag, was not to suspect and monitor his son as usual. He decided not to mention it further and changed the subject.
“You must have seen the article.”
As he got straight to the point, Grayson paused, but soon returned to his previous expression.
“Yes, I was unlucky enough to be photographed. I’m sorry.”
So that’s why they came. Grayson quickly realized the reason for their visit. What should he say now…? As he quickly racked his brains, Ash spoke.
“It’s not your fault.”
Grayson blinked at the quiet voice. In the past, he would have grilled him about what happened and gotten angry, but now his attitude was so calm.
“Aren’t you going to ask what happened?”
Grayson asked, puzzled, and Ash replied indifferently.
“There’s no need to meddle in my son’s sex life.”
This was another unexpected reaction. When Grayson fell silent, Ash stroked his chin with his second finger and pondered for a moment.
“Let’s go back and think slowly about what Grayson needs.”
He tried to recall what Koi had said, but nothing came to mind.
Wouldn’t he know best himself?
“…Ahem.”
At the short clearing of his throat, Grayson straightened up again. It seemed like something was finally about to be said. Waiting with that thought, Ash finally spoke.
“It seems to have caused quite a stir, are you uncomfortable?”
“…Huh.”
Grayson’s eyes gradually widened. Seeing his son’s reaction, Ash was embarrassed. Had he gone too far all this time?
Among Ash’s children, Grayson especially resembled Dominic. As he grew up, it became an almost certain fact, and even Bernice couldn’t deny it. Because of that, Ash sometimes felt a chill down his spine when he saw his son, as if his father had come back to life…
Was it just prejudice?
It was only natural for Grayson to resemble him. He was his blood. Nathaniel also showed traces of Dominic. Stacy, Chase, Larien, and Bliss all had his shadow. It was just that it remained particularly strong in Grayson.
“But he’s our child.”
Koi’s whisper seemed to be heard. Ash felt cold sweat on his palms and clenched and unclenched his fists under the table. Grayson, watching him, had a confused look on his face. Why is Papa acting like this?
“Grayson.”
“Yes.”
After a long time, Ash called him. Grayson answered immediately to the quiet voice.
“The reporters will all be gone by tomorrow. I’ve told Nathaniel to take care of it.”
“Oh… Yes, thank you.”
Grayson was flustered and thanked him at the unexpected words. It was always the case that if the accidents caused by the Miller family’s children became excessively heated, the family’s secretarial team would step in to quietly smooth things over. But it was rare for Ash to give instructions before the secretarial team stepped in. Especially to have Nathaniel do it.
Silence returned. Ash suddenly realized that he was very awkward talking to his son. He didn’t even know what kind of conversations they had had so far.
“Haa.”
He sighed softly and looked at his son sitting across from him and spoke.
“So, is there anything you need?”
When the previous question was repeated, Grayson finally accepted that he was serious. Although it was still hard to believe.
“Did you come to check if I was in a difficult situation?”
Ash frowned again at his son’s surprised expression. He wanted to retort, “Why else would I come all the way here?” but instead, he said something else.
“Yes, Koi also wanted to give you a gift, and I thought it would be better to check the situation myself.”
He didn’t bother to mention that he had come all the way here because he was swayed by Koi’s persuasion. Just seeing it with his own eyes was enough for him to fall into deep thought.
“There’s a bit of a problem.”
Grayson said with a smile. He didn’t know what kind of change of heart it was, but he couldn’t miss this opportunity. Ash stared at his son with a serious expression. After hearing Grayson’s words, he couldn’t help but make a dumbfounded expression.
“That’s all?”
“Yes, it’s nothing much, right?”
Grayson said again with a smiling face.
“But it’s a very big problem for me.”
Ash stared at Grayson’s face for a while before averting his gaze.
“Okay, I’ll talk to Station Chief. Anything else you need?”
“Not now. Thank you for listening.”
Grayson politely concluded the conversation. Even this was the attitude and words that Ash had taught him. Looking at it this way, his son didn’t seem to have changed.
But if what I saw was right…
“Grayson.”
“Yes, Papa.”
He answered immediately to the quiet call this time as well. Surprisingly, Ash didn’t continue right away and just looked at his son’s face for a while. As if he was choosing what to say.
Grayson waited for him to open his mouth, puzzled by the unfamiliar behavior. After a strange silence, Ash opened his mouth.
“I have something to tell you.”
Desire Me if you can
Knock, knock. After knocking, Dane opened the door after a while. He glanced at Ash standing in front of the door and Grayson behind him, then stepped aside.
“Ash, Grayson. Did the talk go well?”
At Koi’s question, Ash nodded expressionlessly and Grayson smiled as always. Koi hugged Dane with a regretful face and patted his back.
“It was nice seeing you, Dane. Sorry for coming so late when you must be tired.”
“No, it was nice seeing you too.”
Surprisingly, Dane smiled and greeted him warmly. Grayson, who immediately looked inside the room through the open door, immediately knew the reason. There was an unwrapped gift box on the bed.
It must be something from Darling again.
It was rare for Dane’s face to relax to this extent. ‘I have to find out what he bought so I can refer to it next time,’ he vowed, but Koi, who had released his arms around Dane, looked up at him and said.
“Please take good care of Grayson.”
Soon after, Koi looked back at Grayson with loving eyes. Seeing that face, Dane recalled all the praises Koi had showered on his child until just now.
His children’s nicknames were all Satan, Executioner, Pervert, Mad Dog, Conman, and Poisoned Marshmallow, but how could he say his children were like angels?
Dane, recalling the nicknames of the Miller family’s six siblings that he had seen in an article, shook his head. Koi, who didn’t see that because he was hugging Grayson, greeted his son and then looked back at Dane.
“You don’t have to come out, we’re leaving now, so rest.”
Ash seemed to think the same way, nodding briefly and turning around. Dane didn’t bother to follow them and just waved his hand lightly before going back into the room.
“Wait a minute!”
It was right then. Grayson, who was left alone in the hallway, suddenly burst into Dane’s room. Passing Dane, who frowned at him, he went straight to the bed and looked inside the box and said out loud.
“Cat clothes?”
He was dumbfounded by the absurd gift, but Dane, who had followed him in, took out a cute dress with a smile on his face.
“Yes, a French luxury cat outfit. All handmade.”
He chuckled and took out the dress and a small crown, muttering with satisfaction.
“Koi likes it. Your Papa, not so much.”
Dane looked back at Darling, who was lying on the cushion and sleeping, and put the gift back in the box. He couldn’t help but hum, thinking about bathing the cat on the weekend, putting on the new clothes, and taking lots of pictures.
“What did your Papa say? Was there anything special?”
“Ah.”
Finally, with the attention back on him, Grayson cleared his throat.
“There was. He asked me if there was anything I needed.”
Dane, who was organizing the box, paused. His eyes widened as he turned his head.
“You, don’t tell me…”
Seeing his expectant face, Grayson nodded confidently.
“I told him to let us do our volunteer work together instead of separately. We’ll be together from tomorrow!”
At that moment, a vein popped out on Dane’s temple.
“You idiot!”