The next evening, Kerry Phillips drove Cohen Phillips back to the villa.
Cade Phillips stood smiling at the entrance to greet them.
Once the car stopped, he stepped forward and opened the passenger door for Cohen Phillips.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, welcome home. Dad has been waiting for you for a long time."
Cohen Phillips met his gaze for a moment, tightened his scarf, and said nothing.
"Let's go, let's head inside."
Cade Phillips led the two inside, saying cheerfully, "Dad, Mom, my brothers are back."
A woman dressed in luxurious clothes emerged from the kitchen, a kind smile on her face.
"Kerry, Cohen, you're back. Dinner is still being prepared. Why don't you sit and talk with your dad first? I'll make you some hot tea to warm up."
Kerry Phillips maintained a superficially polite smile.
"Thank you for the trouble."
Ona Reed covered her mouth with a light laugh, her gaze fleetingly sweeping over the silent Cohen Phillips's face.
"We're all family, no need for such formalities. Please, have a seat."
"Big Brother, Second Brother, come sit quickly."
Cade Phillips urged, looking towards Manuel Phillips, who sat stern-faced in the middle of the sofa watching TV.
"Dad, my brothers are back."
Manuel Phillips glanced at the two brothers out of the corner of his eye, moved his lips, but couldn't bring himself to speak first.
The father and sons weren't close to begin with, hadn't seen each other in five or six years, and there were many unresolved issues between them. Meeting again was somewhat awkward.
Kerry Phillips patted Cohen Phillips's back, signaling him to sit, and sat down beside him.
He spoke up, "Dad, how is your health?"
Manuel Phillips's stiff expression loosened slightly.
He nodded.
"Hmm."
The large living room was once again filled only with the sound of the TV news broadcast.
Cade Phillips looked left and right and suddenly laughed.
"Dad, weren't you going on about every day, wanting my brothers to come back quickly? You were eagerly anticipating their arrival right before they came in. What are you pretending for now?"
Manuel Phillips's face fell, unable to save face.
He glared at his son, cleared his throat, and turned his gaze to Cohen Phillips, saying awkwardly, "How is Second Son's health?"
Kerry Phillips smiled and replied, "It's much better with proper care."
Manuel Phillips frowned.
"And this trait of not liking to talk hasn't changed one bit? Still doesn't know how to address people?"
It was rather laughable.
From birth until now, Cohen Phillips had never once called him 'Dad'.
Before, he thought the child was just autistic and withdrawn, that not wanting to talk was normal.
But now he was all grown up and still didn't understand basic manners.
Cohen Phillips lowered his eyes, tapping on his phone screen, indifferent to the dissatisfaction and reproach in his father's tone, carrying his impoliteness through to the end.
Ona Reed timely emerged carrying tea.
"Here, have some hot tea. Dinner will be ready soon."
After pouring the tea, she sat down beside Manuel Phillips, patting his back as if to soothe him.
Adopting the posture of a caring mother, she began inquiring about the two brothers' lives, studies, and work in Y City over the past few years.
Kerry Phillips patiently endured her fake concern, like a filial junior reporting only the good news and avoiding the bad, selectively sharing only positive things.
One asked, the other answered, until finally the kind smile on Ona Reed's face was almost unsustainable.
"Sir, Madam, Young Masters,"a servant who had finished setting the table came over and said, "Dinner is ready."
Manuel Phillips stood up.
"Let's eat first."
Five people with different agendas sat around the dining table, harmony mixed with a faint sense of strangeness.
After the meal, Ona Reed said with a smile, "Kerry and Cohen, why don't you stay at home tonight? Talk with your dad. It's been years since he's seen you. He doesn't say it, but he's always been thinking of you. I've had the rooms cleaned, and called the designers to send over clothes."
Cohen Phillips was unwilling, but Kerry Phillips made the decision to accept.
"Alright."
"Haha, we're family, no need for formal words."
The family reunion seemed to put Manuel Phillips in a rather good mood.
"Kerry, come with me to the study. I have something to discuss with you."
Kerry Phillips nodded, looking at Cohen Phillips.
"Cohen, go back to your room and rest early."
"Mhm."
After they went upstairs, Cohen Phillips also prepared to get up.
"Cohen."
Ona Reed stopped him, her smile not reaching her eyes.
"Come, Auntie wants to talk to you about something."
Cohen Phillips lifted his eyes.
"What is it?"
She took a sip of tea from her cup, her demeanor turning somewhat sharp.
"You studied fine arts in university, right?"
"Mhm."
"And what are your plans for the future?"
Cohen Phillips curved his eyes slightly.
"No particular plans. Do you want to point me in a direction?"
"I have a friend who is a professor at a top art academy in M City. I can introduce you. You could go there for further studies for a few years. How does that sound?"
Cade Phillips, sitting nearby, chimed in, "Second Brother, you should seriously consider this. Professor Smith is a world-renowned master painter. Studying under him, you might become a great artist yourself."
Cohen Phillips leaned back lazily against the sofa back, looking at the mother and son, and said leisurely, "I don't have such lofty artistic aspirations. Besides, I just started a relationship. I can't abandon my lover for the sake of my career."
Cade Phillips's face instantly stiffened.
Ona Reed, with a skin-deep smile, continued to persuade him, "Cohen, matters of love and affection are all fleeting clouds. Your own future is what's important. If you go out and meet more people, while improving yourself, you'll also encounter more excellent individuals. When you're more mature, you'll understand what kind of person truly suits you best."
"But I don't think I can find anyone more excellent than Baldur."
Cohen Phillips blinked innocently.
He wasn't hiding anything, but to Cade Phillips's ears, it sounded like deliberate boasting and provocation.
His breathing grew rapid.
Ona Reed looked as if she might crush the cup's rim.
Finally, she could no longer maintain the act. Her face turned cold.
"I hope you realize that some people are not suitable for you."
He curled the corners of his lips, rising leisurely.
"Thank you, Auntie, for your concern regarding my love life. Whether he's suitable or not, I'll measure that after we've been together a bit longer. It's cold, I'm going back to my room. You should rest early too."
Staring fixedly at his retreating back as he went upstairs, Ona Reed angrily put down her teacup with a heavy thud, saying bitterly, "So sharp-tongued! I truly underestimated him!"
"Mom..."
Cade Phillips's eyes reddened.
"What do we do? Baldur is really with him..."
She frowned, comforting him.
"Don't worry. Baldur is just momentarily captivated by his looks. It won't last. The Morgan family wouldn't accept him either."
"But..."
"Leave him to me. You just focus on doing well with the company project."
Ona Reed looked worriedly towards the upstairs.
"Don't let Kerry find an opportunity to whisper criticisms in your dad's ear and snatch what's yours away."
Cade Phillips gritted his teeth and nodded.
"I understand."
Back in his room, Cohen Phillips sat on the edge of the bed, followed his heart's desire, and called Baldur.
The moment the call connected, he made a demand regardless of propriety, with a faint hint of coquettishness, "Baldur, I don't want to stay overnight at my father's house. Come pick me up. I want to see you."
Baldur Morgan had just finished working overtime and was leaving the company.
He laughed and said, "Alright, I'll come get you."
His face lit up with a smile.
"I'll wait for you."
Half an hour later, Cohen Phillips received a message.
He grabbed his coat and hurried downstairs.
Outside the villa, Baldur Morgan, wearing a long black coat, stood by his car.
Watching his 'kid' stride quickly towards him, he slightly opened his arms.
Cohen Phillips walked up to him, bumped into his embrace, looked up, and planted a kiss on the corner of his lips.
His eyes seemed to hold dazzling stars.
"You came so fast."
Baldur Morgan held him tight, affectionately pressing his forehead against Cohen's.
"My treasure missed me."
Cohen lifted his face slightly, gently rubbing against Baldur Morgan's nose.
"Do you want to kiss me?"
A smile spread in Baldur Morgan's eyes.
He captured the offered lips.
Cohen Phillips clung tightly to him, his heart feeling warm and soft on the cold winter night...