The office was silent except for the steady tap…tap…tap of Sage's pen against glass. Behind him, the city lights burned like distant embers.
The door cracked open without ceremony. A thud echoed.
Nathan Smith. Juli's older brother. Sage and Sonia's old classmate. Heir of Smith Corporations.
"Still alive, Brown?" Nathan drawled, stepping inside in a crisp white suit. He was the only man who could walk into this office without being shot first.
Sage's glare sharpened. "Disappointed?"
Nathan smirked, lounging casually in front of the desk. "Careful with that pen. You'll break it before I break the news."
Sage didn't move, didn't blink. He simply raised one brow. "You're late."
A pen drive arced through the air—Sage caught it effortlessly.
Nathan shrugged. "Just the routine reports. But this—" he dropped a folder onto the desk with a deliberate thud—"this is the one you asked for. And you'd better brace yourself."
Sage's hand twitched near the shotgun under his desk. Nathan, unfazed, stood taller, sliding the file closer.
"What do you mean?" Sage asked, voice flat.
Nathan's eyes glinted. "See it for yourself. Your father is the real deal."
Sarcasm hung in the air, but Sage flipped the file open. The title burned back at him:
"MALE PREGNANCY."
He froze, then slowly lifted his gaze. "Did you watch a science fiction movie before coming here? Enough of this nonsense."
Nathan barked a laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, no. This isn't fiction. This is your father's insanity." His tone hardened, heavy enough that even Sage didn't dismiss it.
The file was a nightmare—diagrams, organs displaced, handwritten formulas in Apollo's meticulous script. Flesh grafting. Artificial womb schematics.
"You were right," Nathan said, humor gone. "He wasn't just playing with criminals for that second party's little 'medicine empire.' Compared to this, their experiments are child's play."
Sage's jaw tightened. "Spit it out."
Nathan tapped the page. "Your father doesn't want power. Doesn't want profit. He's trying to rewrite biology itself."
Sage's eyes flicked up, unreadable. "…Then what does he want?"
Nathan's smile returned—thin, dangerous. "Love. He wants to make his husband pregnant. Build a womb where none should exist."
Silence drowned the room. For the first time, Sage leaned back, one hand covering his mouth like he might laugh—but the tension in his jaw betrayed him.
"You're telling me," Sage said softly, "my father is playing god… for Eros?"
Nathan's gaze gleamed. "And here I thought you were the crazy one in your family."
A low, dark chuckle escaped Sage. He snapped the file shut. "Looks like madness is hereditary."
Nathan leaned on the desk. "None of the experiments worked—yet."
The smirk slipped from Sage's face. "And the recent disappearances. Don't tell me those weren't just for medicine."
Nathan exhaled. "He's started again. Built a syringe to inject into male youths. Fresh test subjects."
Sage's tone dropped to ice. "Youths. I see."
Nathan's eyes narrowed. "What do you know, Brown?"
Sage's gaze sharpened. "During my Phuket trip—Miana was kidnapped. Warehouse full of teenagers. Male and female."
Nathan cursed under his breath. "Your old man had them bring both genders to hide the real agenda. Cunning bastard. But why teenagers?"
"Because their hormones run wild," Sage murmured.
Nathan scowled. "You crazy scientists."
Sage flipped further into the file. His smirk faded. The side effects were grotesque: bodies rupturing as organs twisted, blood pouring from eyes, nails, pores. Skin tearing open under the strain.
"Interesting," he murmured, almost to himself.
Nathan's tone was sharp. "Will you let him inject Eros?"
Sage's lips curled. "Fox will probably kill Apollo before I get the chance. That would be a disappointment."
"So we strike first."
Sage's eyes gleamed with something cold, unholy. "No. Let him finish. Let him create it first."
Nathan slammed a hand against the desk. "You're a crazy fucker."
Sage leaned back, smirk cutting like a blade. "Hereditary, remember?"
***
Vine House, late afternoon.
Sam lay on his stomach on the garden swing, white silk robe loosely draped around him—the only thing Sage allowed him to wear these days. His legs swayed lazily, face smeared with a cooling rice paste mask. "Caged like a pet," he muttered, reaching for his phone just as it buzzed.
Incoming group call.
He answered.
Prez (eyes widening): "Dude. What. The. Actual. Fuck."
Juli (gasping dramatically): "Myyyyy myyyyy~ Is that SAM doing skin care?!"
Jake (snickering): "Bro, breathe if you already became Sage's mistress."
Jean (rolling his eyes): "Shut up, Jake. Sam—listen to me. Run while you still have time."
Ray (clutching his chest): "I nearly had a heart attack seeing this."
Miana popped her head into the frame behind Juli and Ray.
Miana: "Ohhh myyyy… Samnnn! Come to my salon instead!"
Sam (deadpan, peeling a cucumber slice off his cheek): "Are you guys done with this circus?"
Jake: "Nope. Still going."
Sam: "Shut up. You're just extra weight on the earth."
The group snorted.
Jean: "Seriously though—are you still trapped with Sage?"
Prez: "Yeah, man. This is starting to look like a kidnapping case."
Miana (smirking): "A willing one, if you ask me."
Sam (arching a brow): "Getting cheeky, aren't you, Miana?"
Juli: "Ooohhh, my girl's got a point though."
Ray: "Exactly. One hundred percent."
Jake (leaning closer to camera): "Wait—will Sage even let you attend your sister's engagement?"
Jean's expression darkened.
Jean: "Speaking of Sonia—she called me. Asked me to help her kill Mr. Brown."
Prez: "DAMN. She's a savage!"
Sam (smiling faintly under the mask): "To be heir… to earn Father's acknowledgment… you have to be ruthless."
Jean (hesitant): "I also talked to Rowon. He said… Sage's father already knows about you."
Juli (eyes widening): "Shit. Is that why Sage's keeping you locked up?"
Jake: "Not just that—Rowon also said your father caught a hint of Sage too."
Juli, Ray, Miana (in unison): "Fuuuck!"
Sam gulped, voice lowering.
Sam: "…Yes."
Prez: "So that's why you're not even trying to escape, huh?"
Sam hesitated, then sighed.
Sam: "I mean… come on. Do you really want me to face my old man right now? Especially after…"
He bit his tongue too late.
Jean (frowning): "After what?"
Sam (grimacing): "…After he saw me and Sage's sex tape leak."
Everyone (screaming in chorus): "WHAT?!!!"
Sam winced, covering his face with his hand. "Shit."
Juli (snorting): "You're screwed, man."
Sam (muffled): "Yeah. I know."
Ray: "Well… Sonia's engagement is in a week."
Miana: "Either way, you'll have to face him."
Prez: "So… prepare yourself."
Jake (grinning): "I'm stocking up popcorn already."
Sam (snapping): "Screw you, bastard."
Jean (smirking): "Save me a seat."
The whole group burst out laughing, while Sam groaned and sank deeper into the swing.