I froze, completely caught off guard. What could he possibly mean? There was nothing between Anton and me. The fifteen-year age gap meant we barely even crossed paths in daily life. Anton had always been more like a distant elder, someone I was expected to respect, nothing more.
Harold’s fury only deepened. "Don’t pretend," he hissed, losing all control in front of everyone.
Harold's brother gently tried to calm him down, urging caution, but Harold shoved him away angrily.
"Didn’t you know it was my eldest brother’s idea to handle that situation with the illegitimate child? And now, he’s still not married, constantly distracted when you’re around. And you’re telling me there’s nothing between the two of you?"
I took a deep breath, feeling the absurdity of his accusation. His logic was completely deranged.
I raised my free hand and slapped him hard. "I have no idea what you're talking about, and even if any of it were true, that’s your brother’s problem, not mine."
Without another glance at Harold, I turned on my heel and left, heading back to my place, just as he wanted. But to my surprise, Anton was already there, waiting for me.
He stood tall and imposing, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. His presence felt as unmovable as a mountain.
I walked up to him. "Brother," I greeted him quietly.
His gaze swept over me, not in any intentional way, but it made me feel as if he could see right through me.
"I found your hotel check-in record and asked Harold to bring you back. Did he act foolishly again?"
"I thought, now that he’s 30, he might have grown better than before. Clearly, I was wrong. I'll handle it. Ashley won’t be a problem anymore."
I didn’t thank him, my discomfort only deepening. I wrapped my arms around myself, said nothing more, and nodded, brushing past him as I walked inside.
The Gray family was full of men who made promises they never kept. And Harold—he refused to let go of Ashley, even if it meant losing everything.
The next day, Anton summoned us all to the Gray family’s Buddhist temple. He sat quietly, fingering the Buddhist beads in his hand, his eyes steady as he opened them.
"Kneel," he commanded Harold.
Anton was more than just a brother to Harold; he’d been both brother and father. Harold had never resisted him—until now.