"Then let's kill him," Kael said nonchalantly, "but not now, after Dad passes away."
"Stop joking, what are you....."
"I'm not joking," he interrupted.
Rael stared at him for a while, "What do you get out of killing him?"
"Why do you think Dad gave him five percent shares?" he countered with a question instead.
"Because he didn't do anything for the company and deserves only....."
"Only!" he cut his brother off again and leaned over the table, "because Dad knows with his intelligence he can climb over to the CEO's seat if he wants to."
"What?" Rael burst out laughing, "That's impossible, moreover Dad hates him and favors you over him, why would he do that?"
"Dad only hates him because he never wanted to participate to flourish his company, but both Dad and I know that he is more than capable of taking over the company."
Rael leaned back, "It makes sense how he wanted his will to be read in his presence. So you want to get rid of that possibility?"
"Well, it helps you as well, so why not?"
"But why not now?"
Kael sighed, "Stupid, think about it yourself. His mother has no claim to the property since Dad removed her from the family assets long ago. But if you kill him now, then there is a possibility Dad changes his will to give her her son's assets." Kael got up and walked away while Rael was still lost in thought as he bit his lips.
Shael was still sitting in the waiting area, his eyes fixed on the watch ticking across the wall. Every tick tick reminding him of his painful childhood, and with the ticking, his father's expressions got more grim by Shael's every single act.
The actions of a typical omega, liking soft and shiny laces which were forcefully changed to suits, the flowers in the garden he loved that were changed into a business inspired place, his lipstick that his father trampled underfoot and slapped him for using it.
Every memory was like an echo in his mind, with countless voices cursing at him. He was guilty for not giving up on being an omega, refusing to be trained as other Alphas, which resulted in immense hatred from his family. And they never realized that he was strong enough to go through all of that on his own.
He was still staring at the square shaped watch and noticed Kael running to the father's room. He stood up and sprinted behind him.
"What do you mean by that?" He saw Kael shouting at his mother as he entered the room.
"He permitted it himself. Doctors recommend using deep palliative sedation because they said it will become more painful from now on," Shael's mother explained.
"But still! He is still alive, how could you think of something like that?"
Rael grazed against Shael's shoulder, who was standing near the door, as he crossed past him.
"Brother," Rael grabbed Kael's arm and dragged him out.
"What's wrong?" Shael asked his mother, turning to his father who was lying on the bed motionless.
"Your father is dying a slow and painful death, so doctors suggested using deep palliative sedation," she burst out sobbing, "he is not getting any better, his cells are deteriorating. It's better to let him die peacefully."
Shael slowly walked towards her and gave her a hug, trying to hold in his tears. In his memory, his mother never hugged him, which made his body stiff, and he drew back soon after.
Outside, Rael said, "Brother, please try to understand."
"But..... still...," Kael's voice cracked, and he started crying.
Rael patted his shoulders as he plopped down to the floor.
Mael, who had just come with his mother, saw him, "It's my first time seeing Second Brother breaking down like this."
"That's because you didn't receive as much love as he did from your father," his mother replied, "he worked so hard to get your father's love, honestly fifty percent is nothing compared to his efforts."
Shael walked out just then.
"Please hang in there," she said as she approached them, "someone did not even shed tears after receiving a palace. He should have at least acted like this." She glared at Shael as she walked inside.
Shael looked at his brother covering his face with his palms, still crying, "Even a person like Kael could break into tears!"
The doctors proceeded with the method after everyone signed the documents and he died within twenty four hours.
A funeral was held. That's when Shael learned for the first time that they had so many relatives. How come he was never introduced to anyone?
His eyes fixed on the entrance, new faces coming and going, unfamiliar, different, and colorful. For a moment, he felt secluded from this world, sitting in a corner where no one came to greet him nor even looked at him.
All unfamiliar faces until a familiar face entered his sight, Ronan. He gestured Shael to come out.
"Ronan!"
"Shhhhh!" Ronan placed a finger on his own lips.
Shael stood up and sprinted out, hugging him tightly, and tears that seemed to be clogged started streaming. No one noticed them, and Ronan took him away for a while.