Chapter 71: ⁷¹: Dating.

Kael’s POV

"What?!" I slammed my fist against the table, the impact making the papers scattered across it jump. My chair scraped loudly against the floor as I stood.

I wasn’t myself anymore. It was as though my body was reacting before my mind had even caught up.

"Which video is this? When was it taken?" I demanded. I didn’t even know why I needed to know. Was it because I didn’t want my brother getting involved with someone who might have been sent by my enemies?

Or was it because the very thought of Athena being connected to someone else, especially Louis was bothering me far more than it should?

Whatever the real reason was, I refused to examine it. Right now, I only wanted answers.

"It was filmed during the Young Master’s birthday party," Ryan replied, keeping his answer brief. "The dance they both performed together that day."

My expression changed. That day. Of course. That was the first time I had truly realized how much Athena Moonvel affected me.

I still remembered the strange feeling that had taken hold of me when I had seen her with Louis. It had been as though something that belonged to me was suddenly slipping out of my reach.

The feeling had been so intense that I had accepted Athena into our agreement without giving myself even a moment to reconsider.

That day was the reason, I had become so defensive whenever Athena even casually mentioned Louis.

But Athena herself had told me repeatedly that Louis didn’t like her because she had taken the Dravera he wanted. She had also made it clear that she didn’t particularly like Louis either.

So what was this? Why were the two of them suddenly being connected again? My thoughts became increasingly chaotic. I felt as though something was burning inside me, something I couldn’t name and didn’t want to acknowledge.

All I knew was that the idea of Athena becoming close to someone else, especially my own brother was intolerable.

Whatever existed between Athena and me, I couldn’t define it anymore; an agreement, enmity, perhaps even a game of cat and mouse. I didn’t know what it was.

But one thing was certain. Until everything between us was over, I couldn’t simply stand aside and watch someone else claim a place beside her. The thought only made my hands clench again.

Even if Athena turned out to be my enemy, even if she had been sent here with a hidden motive, I couldn’t bring myself to let her walk away so easily. She dared to think she can play with me, so she shall be the one being played.

"We’re done here," I said, moving around the table.

Ryan immediately straightened.

"You can leave now."

"Okay, Alpha."

He opened the door for me and I stepped out of the study, followed by him, reaching the main hallway. We went in opposite directions.

I entered the living room, and one of the staff members immediately stepped forward to greet me.

I gave them a brief nod.

"Set the dinner table and tell Louis to join me there," I instructed before heading upstairs to change.

I needed some time to compose myself and a cold bath to help cool down some of my anger before having the conversation I wanted with Louis.

...

I entered the dining room after taking a cold bath. I had hoped it would wash away some of the anger still simmering inside me, but strangely, it hadn’t helped much.

I had never given anything this much importance before. Yet, as always, anything related to Athena Moonvel somehow managed to affect me.

I was trying to push the thoughts from my mind.

"How did the investigation go, brother?" Louis asked the moment I approached the table. His eyes were filled with concern. "Did you find something useful? Were you okay throughout everything?"

The worry in his expression managed to calm me almost instantly.

His eyes always reminded me of the little boy he had once been, the child who refused to stop following me around, constantly trying to get my attention no matter how busy I was.

I sighed and settled into my chair. "We’ll talk after we’ve finished eating," I told him, gesturing for the staff to begin serving the food.

Louis didn’t argue. He simply nodded and started eating. Food was treated with the utmost respect in our household. It was something our mother had instilled in both of us from childhood, and neither of us took it lightly.

After finishing barely one serving, Louis put his utensils down and turned toward me.

"I’m finished, brother. Now can we talk?"

I gave him a light glare. "That isn’t even half of what you usually eat. Finish your food, and then we’ll talk."

"But—"

I raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Serve him another portion."

The staff immediately nodded and stepped forward to serve him more food.

Louis gave me a slightly displeased look but obediently continued eating.

I watched him for a moment. There was something almost amusing about how impatient he was whenever he wanted to know something, yet he still followed my instructions without putting up much of a fight.

Eventually, dinner came to an end.

The staff cleared the table and quietly left us alone. I looked at Louis, who was now staring at me expectantly, clearly waiting to hear what had happened after he had returned home.

"The investigation went smoothly," I said, deciding not to tell him everything. There was no reason to burden him with the details of what had happened today. "You don’t need to worry about it."

Louis nodded, a relieved smile appearing on his face. I studied him for another moment. There were still some things I needed to know.

"I want to ask you something, though."

He immediately nodded.

"What is it?"

I leaned back in my chair, keeping my gaze fixed on him. "Are you dating Maria Vale?" The moment the question left my lips, I watched his expression carefully, waiting to see how he would react.