Everyone was worried. No one could get him to open the door. Even Nael came and apologized to him, but Nathan didn't soften at all.
Nathan almost lost control when Lucas yelled in front of his room. "Hey! Get out! Do something! Don't be angry like a girl!"
"Nathan! You know only losers do this kind of thing, right? Get out! Talk to us like a man!"
Grrrr!
Nathan clenched his fists, but he held back. He didn't want to see any of them.
That night, he was enjoying the air on the balcony. He turned toward Leo's room. For some reason, that room always caught his attention whenever he went outside. Luckily, his brother wasn't there now, so he could enjoy the night in peace.
The air was very cold, but he insisted on staying longer with his jacket wrapped around his body. He took a deep breath and stared at the row of lights stretching far into the distance.
Then his eyes shifted to Leo's room, which was lit. The light inside was dim; it seemed like the man had only turned on the bedside lamp.
He wanted to go inside immediately, because he didn't want Leo to see him out there. But his eyes widened when he saw shadows moving inside his brother's room. There was more than one silhouette.
His heart pounded faster every second. The shadows were moving strangely. His stomach twisted when he saw someone floating upside down in the air.
What was that?
Nathan unconsciously held his breath. What was happening in there?
But before he could figure it out, he jumped in surprise when he heard a loud bang on the door.
His heart raced even more. What was going on? Was it a burglar? He stood frozen. After seeing so many strange things in that house, he could no longer think positively.
His eyes widened when he saw the door jerk as if someone was doing something on the other side.
"Nathan, I'm coming in!"
Alexander's voice.
What?
The man didn't ask; he forced his way in. He even broke the door!
Nathan stared in shock as the door cracked open. He wasn't serious, right?
But the door was open now. Louis appeared with an axe in his hand. The door was partially broken. Alexander pushed Louis aside and walked in.
Roger, Malvin, and Lucas peeked in and immediately followed. Nael the last one.
"What, what are you doing?!" Nathan exclaimed, completely stunned.
Malvin looked worried. "You haven't come out for two days. You haven't eaten. How could we not be worried?"
"Didn't I tell you not to lock the door?" Alexander added.
Nathan felt his blood boil. "Get out! I don't want to see any of you!" he shouted.
He moved toward the sofa, throwing whatever he could reach.
Roger caught the pillow thrown at him. "Hey, hey, stop. We just want to make sure you're okay."
"I don't care! Get out!" Nathan threw a book from the table toward Alexander.
The book hit his face before sliding to the floor. The man didn't dodge or catch it. Seeing Alexander's calm, sharp gaze made Nathan flinch.
Nathan stopped moving, standing still, waiting for his brother's reaction. The room instantly grew silent.
Louis moved first, gathering the pillows and slowly picking up the book at Alexander's feet. He placed everything on the sofa.
"Ahem." He sensed the tension and wisely stepped away.
Nathan still glared at Alexander with the look of a defensive wild kitten. He flinched as Alexander took a deep breath.
"You signed an agreement to stay here for six months, didn't you? Did you read the rules? That you would do whatever I said and join all family activities? Did you forget?" Alexander asked coldly, enough to scare Nathan.
"I just don't want to see any of you!" Nathan replied, still full of anger.
"Dinner, breakfast, shopping, those are family activities. And you've been avoiding them," Alexander said.
Nathan clenched his fists. The man wanted to threaten him with the agreement. But he really couldn't look at any of them, especially Nael.
"I don't care! If you want me to leave, I'll leave! I don't want to see any of you!" Nathan finally said. He walked straight toward the dressing room to grab his things. He didn't care anymore.
Alexander watched his every move, his expression cold. Louis, watching from the side, could tell his master was irritated. He had served the man long enough to recognize that expression.
Alexander looked at Roger. "Take everyone out."
Roger never refused Alexander's order. He nodded.
"Everyone out!" he shouted, pulling Nael, who was standing quietly in the corner, out of the room.
But they waited outside the broken door. Roger had to make sure Nathan was okay. And they were curious what Alexander was going to do.
Alexander walked toward the dressing room. Nathan was opening all the drawers, looking for something.
His bag was gone. Nathan was sure he'd put it in the bottom drawer. Now it was empty. Where was his bag?
He was so focused that he didn't notice Alexander behind him. He jumped when he turned around and found his brother towering over him. He almost bumped into him.
Nathan immediately turned away and tried to walk past him, but the man stretched out his arm to block him.
"What are you doing?" Nathan snapped.
"Where are you going?"
"None of your business."
"I will not let you go."
Nathan glared. "What?"
He froze when Alexander stepped closer. "You're staying here. Whatever happens, you stay."
The man's voice was deep and cold.
Nathan's heart pounded. For some reason, Alexander's aura was frightening at that moment.
"You can't force me!" Nathan's voice shook.
"I can. Do you remember? I can do whatever I want." Alexander was grateful for that clause in the agreement.
Nathan froze. He was trapped. "What?"
"And, if you read the words at the bottom, it says that if you break the rules before the agreement ends, you have to pay 2 million euros."
Nathan's eyes widened. "What? Are you serious?" He couldn't find other words. He backed away and rushed toward the drawer where he kept the agreement.
He read it again. That sentence wasn't there.
"You're lying!" Nathan snapped.
Alexander pointed to a tiny line of text at the bottom of the page. The font was very small.
"If either party breaks the agreement, a penalty of 2 million euros will be imposed."
Nathan felt his face heat up. Two million? No way! Why didn't he read it?!
This was fraud. Extortion.
Nathan stared at his brother with wide eyes. "Why did you write it so small? You tricked me!"
"It's written there. It's your fault for not reading it."
Nathan held the letter with trembling hands. He wanted to punch him.
"So, it's better if you don't go anywhere," Alexander said.
Nathan's shoulders slumped. Damn it, he thought. He was stuck with them for six months. There was no way out.
Nathan looked at Alexander again. "What are you going to do?"
Alexander stepped closer, making Nathan back away. He wrinkled his nose.
"You haven't showered or eaten in two days?" he asked.
Nathan felt offended. He smelled himself. It wasn't that bad. But he still stepped back.
"Take a shower and eat with me," Alexander said.
Nathan hated the commanding tone. "You're not going to order me around!"
Alexander ignored him and told Louis, who was standing at the changing room door, to tell the staff to prepare dinner now.
Louis immediately left, relieved to escape. But he returned shortly after telling the staff.
And when he came back, Roger and the others were standing anxiously outside the room. He himself frowned when he heard Nathan yelling.
"Aahhh! No! Don't take off my shirt!"
What was Alexander doing to Nathan?