Chapter 12: The Reason For Staying

Leon slowly stood up, pushing his chair back before walking away from the dining table. He had already reached the doorway when he suddenly stopped and glanced back.

"I never wished to be born before you, only to be given the burden that I never wanted to carry..." His gaze settled on Evan. "So take everything that was supposed to be yours."

"Leon!"

Alexandra’s voice suddenly changed.

The timid expression she had worn earlier disappeared as impatience flashed across her face.

"What are you saying? Come back here!"

Leon frowned slightly but didn’t move, "I’ve been carrying it because I’m the eldest. That’s all."

His gaze shifted briefly toward Evan.

"But you are the son of Madam of this house. The position should have been yours from the beginning."

Evan remained silent.

He already knew.

Leon had never wanted the position, and Evan had never wanted to fight him for it. Yet because of the circumstances surrounding their births, everyone had treated them as if they were destined to stand against each other.

The eldest son of the second wife.

The youngest son of the Madam.

Two brothers placed on opposite sides before either of them had a choice.

Leon looked at Evan one last time. "So take it back."

He turned around and walked away.

"Leon!" Alexandra shouted again, her voice now completely stripped of the pitiful tone she had used earlier. "How can you say something like that? Do you even understand what you’re giving up?"

Leon didn’t answer.

Evan’s eyes remained on the doorway for a moment before slowly shifting toward Alexandra.

He understood perfectly. And perhaps that was exactly why Leon had finally decided to give it all to him.

"Come back!"

Luke’s voice roared across the room, causing Leon, who had already passed through the doorway, to stop in his tracks.

Leon remained still for a few seconds before slowly turning around.

Luke’s face was dark with anger. "You think you can just walk away after saying something like that?"

Leon looked at him calmly. "I already said what I wanted to say."

"You’re the eldest son of this family!" Luke’s voice grew louder. "Do you even understand what you’re saying? You think the position of heir is something you can simply throw away whenever you feel like it?"

Leon’s expression finally changed slightly, "Then give it to Evan."

The words made the entire room fall silent again.

Luke’s gaze immediately shifted toward Evan.

Evan, however, remained where he was, his expression unreadable.

Leon looked at him, "He’s the son of the first wife. He’s the strongest Sentinel in the Empire at this moment, and he’s the one who has been carrying the Caesar name higher than any of us."

He paused for a moment, "So what exactly is the reason for keeping the position away from him?"

Alexandra’s expression darkened. "Leon, enough."

But Leon ignored her. He looked toward Luke one last time.

"You wanted an heir who could carry the Caesar family." His gaze shifted back to Evan. "You already have one."

Evan, who had been listening, turned to his mother, Sloane, "Let’s go mother, it would be better to be out of this house from being treated worse than servants here..." He held onto her arm gently.

"Evan..." Sloane’s voice came out weak.

"Where are you going?!"

Luke’s voice thundered across the dining room, stopping Evan in his tracks.

Evan slowly turned his head, his hand still gently holding onto Sloane’s arm. "Taking my mother away from here."

Luke’s expression darkened immediately. "You think you can simply walk out of this house whenever you want?"

Evan stared at him, his expression calm despite the anger burning in his eyes. "I can, and I will."

Sloane’s fingers tightened around Evan’s sleeve. "Evan, please..."

He glanced down at her, his expression softening for only a moment before turning back toward his father. "She has been treated like she doesn’t belong in this household for years. I tolerated it because she told me to. I stayed silent because she didn’t want me to cause trouble."

His gaze hardened, "But today, you slapped her in front of everyone."

Luke’s face remained cold. "Watch your words. Why is every one of you not having that sense of respect towards me, the head of this household!"

"Respect goes both ways..." Evan gave him a side-eye glance. "It’s rather convenient that you remember your position whenever someone speaks back to you, yet forget your wife’s position whenever you want to humiliate her."

Luke’s jaw tightened. "Are you lecturing me now?"

"No." Evan’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "I’m simply reminding you of something you seem to have forgotten."

His gaze briefly fell toward Sloane before returning to Luke.

"And just for your information, I couldn’t care less about having the Caesar name attached to mine anymore..." His smile faded slightly. "You can take it back."

"You can take it back."

Luke didn’t take it as a yes. He lunged forward and snatched Sloane’s wrist, pulling her roughly toward his side, "Then let me remind her why she has stayed beside me for twenty-four years."

Sloane’s face went pale.

Evan’s expression instantly darkened.

Luke looked directly at him. "The moment she walks out of this marriage, I will make sure she loses everything the Caesar family has given her, and her family, who has been depending on the Caesar name, can say goodbye to everything as well..."

He paused before leaning closer to Sloane’s ear. "And... remember your son’s condition."

"I could cover it, Mother... The money, the expenses..." Evan said, trying to reach for his mother again, but Sloane raised her hand and stopped him.

"Evan... please stop..." Sloane’s voice came out weak and hesitant. "I chose to stay here from the first day, and I don’t plan to leave either."

"Mother!" Frustration seeped into Evan’s voice.

"Hear that?" Luke couldn’t contain his victorious smirk. "And do you think being the top Sentinel in the Empire gives you enough privilege to stand on your own without the Caesar family’s money?"

Evan frowned, almost as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

"What year do you think we’re living in?" He gave Luke an incredulous look. "You’re seriously trying to threaten me with money?"

Luke’s smirk slowly faded.

Evan let out a quiet scoff.

"Father, I became an SSS-rank Sentinel without needing to beg you for anything. I have my own salary, my own resources, and more than enough connections to survive without the Caesar family."

Luke’s expression remained cold.

"You think you became the strongest Sentinel all by yourself?"

Evan’s brows furrowed.

Luke’s gaze remained fixed on him.

"You refuse every Guide we’ve pushed toward you. So who do you think kept you from killing everyone around you whenever you lost control all this time?"