That night, the Virellano family dining room was filled with the delicious aroma of food from the ever-busy kitchen.
The crystal chandelier bathed the room in warm light, reflecting off the long dining table draped in black silk and gold embroidery—trying, perhaps, to mask the tension that had just unfolded.
Al stepped in and instantly felt the stares, especially when the servant gestured for him to sit at the far end of the table—still at the same table, yet clearly apart from the rest of the family.
Despite other empty seats in better positions, he was deliberately set aside. A clear sign: the battle wasn't over.
David sat with a faint smile, arms crossed. Sarah twirled her spoon with a satisfied look.
Sandra sat near her husband, unsure, her gaze on Al a mixture of maternal concern and quiet guilt.
Even if a large part of her hadn't accepted Al yet, her motherly instincts made her worry for the child she'd finally found.
Al felt uneasy with how his chair was positioned. He spoke up.
"I'm sitting here?" Al asked, his tone casually laced with irony. "Isn't this a bit..."
Edward stared at him for a moment.
Though it felt strange to see his own son questioning his authority like that, this time he decided to hold back his irritation—especially since Al actually had the intention to leave.
One wrong move, and things could get messy.
"It's not like that, Al. I just wanted to see you more clearly. If you sit beside me, I'd have to keep turning my head," Edward replied calmly.
"But if you're uncomfortable, feel free to choose where you want to sit. Beside David, or Sarah?" he asked.
Al took a look around. Edward sat alone in the middle; to his left were Sandra and David, while to his right sat Aurielle and Sarah.
He then gave a small nod.
"I don't really want to make a fuss over something this trivial." He began.
"It's just that… seeing my chair placed a bit farther apart feels odd. But after your explanation, I guess it makes sense. Besides, there's no way I can sit next to those two right now," he said, referring to David and Sarah.
In the end, he decided to leave the arrangement as it was—keeping a little distance felt better anyway.
Sarah, seeing how Al behaved, made a small comment.
"You should be grateful we're even letting you sit here. Normally, we wouldn't share a table with a backwater criminal like you," She sneered.
Al glanced at her and shook his head.
"Really? So this is how the elite speak? And I thought the public image shown by a famous artist was different from how they really were." he muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
Sarah was furious. She stood abruptly, slamming her hand on the table.
"What did you just say?!"
"Hey now, how can you be the one angry when you're the one doing the mocking, and I'm the one being mocked?" Al replied, shaking his head.
Sarah's anger flared even more.
"How dare you—!"
"Sarah. That's enough." Edward's voice cut through the air like a blade.
Sarah froze, then turned to Edward, and finally to Al.
She knew she couldn't push it any further. Still, she sat down with visible annoyance, her eyes locked on Al like daggers.
Al met her gaze.
They stared at each other, one filled with contempt, the other with scorn.
Sparks flew between them.
Al eventually sat down. He leaned back in the chair, arms folded, eyes empty as he stared at his plate.
Even so, he felt too lazy to bother with it. Still, he decided to wait and see what they actually wanted to talk about.
Fortunately, the food in front of him looked delicious enough — giving him a decent excuse to stay put a little longer.
He stared at the fine silverware and porcelain, at the delicious dishes presented—his mouth almost watering.
He let out a small smile. Not of joy, but the kind you give when trying to hide embarrassment over nearly drooling.
For now, this is the one reason I actually like the elite — the food's satisfying. The portions are usually too small, though… but luckily, this time it's homemade, and the servings are huge. Haha, he thought.
He then glanced at everyone who was supposed to be his real family.
Despite the irritation gnawing at him from their behavior, this was, after all, the first time he was having a meal with his true family.
Somehow, it brought a strange warmth to him—though his attention remained firmly on analyzing their actions.
If they can convince me to stay, that means my mission's going well. Still, I'll need to make a few adjustments — and most importantly, figure out how to keep my distance from those two satanic creatures, he murmured quietly to himself.
Dinner began.
As they ate, Edward finally spoke in a deep, commanding voice.
"We need to talk about Al's behavior today. I don't know if this is true or not, but we'll investigate it. And I expect this to be the last time our family gets into trouble because of actions like this — whether it's Al who did it, or anyone else."
Sarah, sensing the cue, jumped in.
"Dad, it's obviously true. Even without physical evidence, every clue points to him. This child's been here for less than a day, and he's already shown such wild behavior. He caused a scene and even harassed a maid. It's a disgrace."
Aurielle added coldly,
"Sarah, don't jump to conclusions just yet. We've already talked about this. But Dad was right about one thing — we need to investigate it as soon as possible. Who knows what this boy is really like?"
All eyes turned to Al—but he remained calm, focused on his food.
After a moment, he glanced up and apologized casually.
"Ah… so in the end, you still want to talk about this?" he said casually.
"If it's just going to be the same thing all over again, then you might as well stop. Let me finish my meal and leave instead—no point wasting time on something meaningless."
He then turned to Aurielle.
"And as a businesswoman, you should know better than anyone how irritating it is to waste time on something pointless, Sister Aurielle."
Aurielle looked at him, feeling a bit strange to be lectured by Al — yet she couldn't deny that he had a point.
She simply nodded in response.
Meanwhile, Sarah was stunned by Al's composure. She glanced down at her plate, then sneered, throwing barbs without speaking directly to him.
"Whatever the case, at least he's aware enough not to make us waste the rest of our lives dealing with him."
Al's eyes sharpened at that.
Wow, this woman never tires. Even I'm getting a little bored. What actually makes her hate me so much? Is something wrong with her? Al thought, impressed by Sarah's persistence.
When Sandra heard Al mention leaving again, she started to panic.
"Al, please… don't talk about leaving anymore," she said softly.
Edward nodded as well, the exhaustion on his face clearly visible.
"Al, that's not what we meant. We're discussing this because we plan to investigate it, not because we're accusing you again."
He then turned to Sarah.
"And Sarah, please stay quiet for a while."
Sarah could only nod, though her expression remained sharp and cold.
Al paused for a moment, then finally nodded too, realizing Edward had a point. He decided to let them continue.
"Yeah. I just hope it gets investigated soon — at least so things are clear. Whether I'm the one at fault, or that liar tried to frame me," he said between bites of his meal.
Edward responded with a slight nod.
He glanced at David for a moment but couldn't quite decide how to react.
To him, it seemed almost impossible that David would lie — and far more likely that Al, a street kid by nature, really had harassed the maid.
But there was nothing he could do right now. Instead, he chose to focus on how to keep Al from leaving — because, in the end, Al was still his biological son.
Meanwhile, David, the one who orchestrated the harassment incident, felt a flicker of nervousness every time someone mentioned the evidence—but quickly reassured himself.
Clearly, people could only see so much from the available CCTV. There was no way they would know the full truth. Still, part of him felt uneasy.
He glanced at his father, hoping he wouldn't press for details.
And sure enough…
"Good. Then let's drop it here," Edward said sternly, clearly unwilling to continue — whether from frustration or exhaustion.
"I'll handle it and make sure everything is done properly. So, what do you want now?" he asked.
Al set his spoon down, took a moment to think as he swallowed the food still in his mouth, then replied,
"Hmph… From the start, I actually hoped to integrate into this family — because, after all, this is my real family," he began.
"The reason I feel like I can't stay here is because of the rejection and unfairness I've felt from you all."
He took a small sip of water to clear his throat before continuing.
"I'm used to living simply, and I don't like making a big deal out of things that shouldn't be. If I'm clearly in the wrong, I don't mind being punished. But if it's uncertain… why should I let myself be punished anyway?"
His tone shifted slightly, a hint of sentiment breaking through.
"Besides, you know I lived outside — on the streets. I've gotten used to unfair treatment out there, and I've grown numb to it. But when it comes from you — my own family — it feels a hundred times more infuriating than anything I've faced before."
Then he looked straight into Edward's eyes.
"So I think it's better for me to leave early than to get dragged into your overblown elite drama." He said.
"Unless... you can hold yourselves back from that, I might consider staying. After all, you're still my real family. No matter how lazy I am, the thought of living with you will always be there," he said, finishing his words.
Hearing that, a sense of guilt flickered in Edward's heart — and in Sandra's and Aurielle's as well. Sarah remained neutral, her resentment dulling any sympathy she might have had.
David, however, could only feel disgusted by what he called another pathetic speech.
Edward sighed deeply and chose not to escalate.
"Alright. I agree," Edward said. "We'll do that — it's the right thing to do, after all."
His words were met with nods of agreement from Sandra and Aurielle, and even from David — though deep down, he clearly disliked it.
Al let out a quiet sigh and thought for a moment.
He glanced toward David and Sarah — the true source of all this household's tension.
This is going to be exhausting. But as long as I can keep my distance from those two creatures, things should be fine, he thought.
In the end, he nodded in agreement.
Everyone seemed relieved — everyone except Sarah and David, of course.
"Good. Then finish your meal first. After this, there's something else we need to talk about," Edward said.
Sandra nodded gently.
"I agree."
"Hm?" Al looked at them, puzzled.
"Just finish your food," Edward replied calmly. "It's about how you'll be living here from now on."
Al paused briefly and in the end nodded too.
"Fine."
And so dinner continued.
---
Later, some of the family and Edward sat in the larger living room to negotiate Al's next steps—particularly where he would live in the mansion.
Sarah eagerly offered a suggestion.
"Discipline is necessary—whether or not he harassed the maid. He's a wild child used to the streets. I say we put him in the storage room as a reminder that he's not part of this family yet."
Aurielle agreed.
"I suppose the storage room suits him just fine — but only for the time being. At least until the investigation is over. Let's just consider him under house arrest for now," she said.
"After all, we still don't truly know whether Al's the real culprit or not. And I believe Al understands what I mean," she added, glancing at him.
David, calm as ever, sat upright and glanced at their father.
"I think... for now, that's wise. Al will need time to adjust. It'll help everyone stay calm."
There was no sarcasm in his voice. He even looked at Al with what seemed like genuine understanding. A perfect mask.
He just didn't want Al to be treated as his equal. No matter how accepted he was, Al's bloodline made him a threat. And to him, this had become a battle of who would push the other out first
Al, leaning quietly in the corner, raised an eyebrow.
"Hum… I'll discuss this with the others, excluding that cruel woman and the lying boy," Al said, looking at his father, taking jabs at David and Sarah.
It was enough to make both of them step back in shock.
"You!" Sarah snapped.
Meanwhile, David could only grit his teeth, not expecting Al to keep calling him a liar.
The rest of the family tensed slightly, but Al's apparent conflict with Sarah and David made them hold back.
Al himself ignored all that and focused on what they wanted to discuss.
"Mmm… anyway. I don't mind the storage room, even sleeping with the servants or at the main gate where security is stationed wouldn't be a problem. But…" he paused for a moment.
"…But why are you so insistent on treating me badly? Wasn't what happened earlier enough? Will you only be satisfied once I'm punished? There are plenty of rooms in this house if your reason is just to keep me under house arrest," he said casually.
Everyone turned toward him, tense, hearing all his arguments and questions.
"That's not it, Al. This isn't punishment anymore. We just feel that, to start with, it's also a lesson in discipline. So your wild behavior can change. This is a big family—we ourselves have been disciplined before," Aurielle said calmly.
She was trying to be gentler with her younger brother, even though she knew the 'discipline' she referred to was trivial.
"So… the goalpost suddenly changed from house arrest to discipline. Still, isn't that a bit extreme? That room's cramped and damp — bad for my health," Al responded.
"If I'm supposed to learn to be part of this family, starting off in a moldy dungeon might just make me feel more alienated. So why should I accept it instead of being disciplined in a more proper place?" he added.
Aurielle was about to respond, but this time, Edward took over. Letting his children argue would only end in another exhausting family drama.
Now he finally understood why Al despised the kind of family drama that always got blown out of proportion.
"Alright, Al. I think you're right—and your sister has a point too. It's better if we find a middle ground," he said calmly.
Al nodded in agreement, and so did the others.
Edward took a moment to think.
With all these complaints and complications, the only options I can think of are... letting Al stay in that empty room on the fourth floor—but they'll definitely object to that.
Or… renting him a place outside until the investigation's over, while assigning bodyguards to watch over him, he mused silently.
But before he could voice his thoughts, Al spoke first.
"Father, since we're now talking about where I'll be staying... I have a suggestion," he said.
"Hm? And what's that?" Edward asked, curious.
"If possible, I'd like to stay in that small building near the garden," he suggested.
"Huh?" Edward replied, slightly confused. "Which one?"
"That one. About two or three hundred meters east from the main house. I think it's private, modest, and it would give me my own space. Compared to my siblings' rooms, it's still… humble. So technically, I'm still 'starting from the bottom,' just… in a more livable way."
Aurielle almost said something about the sibling rooms being mentioned—but she held back.
Al added,
"And you won't have to worry about me. If you all think I'm a pervert or criminal, this helps. I'll be far from the maids and the rest of the family. You can assign guards if you want—Dedy, maybe?" he smiled.
Edward furrowed his brow, slightly surprised by Al's lengthy yet logical suggestion.
For some reason, he found himself a little impressed by his son's ability to present such strong and persuasive arguments.
Al's suggestion actually seemed like a good way to address the issue.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though he couldn't quite understand,
"That building hasn't been used in a while. And it's not even a proper bedroom, though it's spacious enough to make into one. Are you sure?"
Al nodded. "I think it'll work fine."
Truthfully, I didn't want to be isolated like that. But staying with them—especially Sarah and David—every day had the potential to trigger my unstable emotions, which would be very dangerous, so it was better to keep my distance for now.
He smiled.
And... another reason I chose that place was that I had sensed a magical energy from the building earlier that day—a unique energy, strong enough to spark my curiosity.
David noticed—and his eyes flickered. He knew that building. He slowly placed his hand on the table but said nothing.
Aurielle narrowed her eyes.
"You mean that old, dirty shack?" she asked, confirming. "If so, that was David's old cat house. After his cat died, no one touched it."
Al glanced at David.
"Oh… I didn't know. Just saw it from outside."
David finally spoke after a long silence.
"It's dusty. Possibly moldy. But… if you're comfortable there, that's your call."
Edward considered briefly, then nodded.
"Harun, clean the place. Install a bed and a fan. Nothing fancy."
"Yes, Sir," Harun replied.
Sarah added too, after holding back for a while, "Honestly, it's a good idea. A punishment that doesn't harm the family's image but still sets boundaries. Suitable for someone like him."
Al ignored it.
Edward did too. He then turned to Al seriously.
"Fine. I don't know what suddenly came over you, making you so easy to talk to. But that's better. I hope everything goes smoothly there."
Al shrugged. "Got it. I'll settle in there tonight."
The tension eased slightly—but still lingered.
Edward glanced at Al again.
"As for allowance, you'll receive the same amount as the others. Fifty million rupiah per month."
Al nodded, indifferent. For now, he just wanted to clean the room and get some sleep as soon as possible.
But before he could reply, Aurielle interrupted—calm, but sharp.
"Sorry, Dad, if I may… Al hasn't been publicly acknowledged as part of the family. Giving him the full allowance might create a… misleading perception. Especially since he hasn't proven himself in our family system."
Sarah chimed in, "We don't even know if he can uphold the family's image. Giving him fifty million like us seems… unwise. He might use it for perverted things outside."
Edward looked irritated—but their arguments weren't entirely wrong.
Al, tired of it all, simply muttered,
"I don't actually need an allowance. The food here is enough. I'm grateful. I can work part-time if I need money. Stop discussing money. It's not that important to me."
The room fell silent. Even David looked at him longer than usual.
This kid is so arrogant, he thought.
"It's not about money, Al, but about what you'll do with it," Aurielle said.
"Yeah, yeah, Sis. Whatever, I don't mind," Al replied lazily.
Aurielle could only mutter quietly at his indifferent response.
Meanwhile, Edward looked at Sandra, silently urging her to speak.
Sandra, more familiar with the family's finances, nodded.
"I-I think that's best for now. I'll give you… a little pocket money. And anything essential you need. Think of it as a test. If you can integrate well into this family…"
She paused, uncomfortable, but said it anyway.
"…you'll be treated equally."
Edward stepped in, smoothing over the awkwardness.
"Exactly. We'll provide what's needed. But are you sure about this?" he asked—not angry, just cautious.
Al nodded.
Still, behind his calm exterior, a thought echoed:
Fifty million? Isn't that just a third of what interns get at that company? Hah… money means nothing.
Edward also exhaled and nodded.
"Fine. For now, the allowance will be held. Report your needs to Harun."
He turned to Harun.
"Take him to the building. Prepare it. He'll stay there starting tonight."
"Yes, Sir." Harun bowed, then glanced at Al.
Al slowly stood up.
Ugh… finally, he thought, feeling that everything was finally settled.
In the end, I decided to stay after all.
Before leaving with Harun, he glanced around the room—sweeping his gaze over every face.
His deep black eyes reflected the glow of the crystal chandelier above. But he saw more than faces—he saw magical auras.
Edward's aura was dim gold—dominant, yet disturbed.
Sandra's was warm gold, but shaky.
Aurielle and Sarah gave off dull yellow light.
Each family member had red threads connecting them to Al—signs of blood ties—but the threads were weak, as if being drained by something.
Then his eyes fell on David.
David's face was calm, clean, and charismatic as always. But the aura around him was… different.
Dark. A pulsating blackish-purple mist, like poisonous fog.
It wasn't just dark—it was feeding off the others, drawing in their light like a slow vortex.
He's… draining them? Al frowned slightly.
But he said nothing.
Because how could he possibly explain that… to a family who didn't even understand the supernatural?
Even though there were plenty of spiritual activities here, I wasn't sure any of them actually understood magic. Maybe my father did—but who knew? Better not bring it up for now. After all, I needed some rest, he thought.
He simply sighed and followed Harun out of the room.
---