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 cold 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.
Fortunately, this time Al's emotions had settled after a while of calming himself. So putting up a little resistance wouldn't be a problem.
"I'm sitting here?" Al asked, his tone casually laced with irony. "Isn't this a bit..."
Edward stared at him—unaccustomed to being questioned, especially by one of his own children. It was as if his authority was being challenged. Still, he held back his irritation out of consideration for the son who had just returned.
"For now, yes. Besides, you've brought trouble to this family tonight. Think of it as punishment," Edward replied.
"You should be grateful we're even letting you sit here. Normally, we wouldn't share a table with a backwater criminal like you," Sarah sneered.
Al only nodded.
"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, glaring at him. She knew she couldn't push it any further. Still, she sat down with visible annoyance, her eyes still 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, unbothered. He leaned back in the chair, arms folded, eyes empty as he stared at his plate. Oddly enough, he was satisfied—at least he was still allowed to eat dinner with the family.
Even so, he was isolated at the end of the table. No one directly forced him away, but his plate remained empty longer than anyone else's.
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.
A family dinner? Yet… it feels like I'm still outside the gate. Whatever. As long as the food's good, 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.
Interesting… in this household, the child deemed rebellious was sidelined but never completely cast out. Noted. 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 expect this to be the last time our family faces trouble because of his actions."
Sarah, sensing the cue, jumped in.
"Dad this child has been here for less than a day, and he's already shown wild behavior. He caused a scene and even harassed a maid. It's a disgrace."
Aurielle added coldly, "If we don't act soon, he'll start exploiting our wealth. He's a danger to our reputation and business."
All eyes turned to Al—but he remained calm, focused on his food. After a moment, he glanced up and apologized casually.
"Ah… hahaha. I didn't know money would be an issue for this big family," he said casually, with a hint of mockery.
"Am I really that terrifying that you think I could exploit the family wealth without you noticing? Thanks for the compliment, hehe. But whatever it is, I'll work on myself to meet this family's standards," he added.
Aurielle could only glare at him, her fork paused mid-air, ready to deliver a bite. But this time, she chose not to make a scene.
After all, what Al said did make sense.
Yeah… maybe I overreacted, thinking he could exploit the family fortune—especially with all of us around. Hum… she scolded herself silently.
Sarah was also stunned by Al's composure. She glanced down at her plate, then sneered, throwing barbs without speaking directly to him.
"At least he knows his place as a lowborn child. But who knows? If he could secretly harass the maids, no one would ever know what other crimes he might commit. I wonder… how many crimes is he committing outside? And… how many times has he been arrested?"
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? And now she refuses to drop this criminal label. Al thought, impressed by Sarah's persistence.
"Hold on," he said. "I don't want to drag this out."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Since the moment I woke up, you've accused me with no proof. Aku bahkan sampai accept the punishment. But now, even without proof, I'm still being called a criminal?"
He then sighed, shaked his head.
"And somehow, my past life—which you all clearly know nothing about—is dragged into this, yet this woman still considers me a criminal from the outside? Isn't that too much?"
Sarah didn't respond, only flashing a sly grin, pleased her jibe at least made Al look uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, the others stared at him, contemplating his words. Indeed, there was no real evidence, and they also didn't know anything about Al's life outside—but for a boy like Al, being a criminal just felt fitting.
David, the one who orchestrated the harassment incident, felt a flicker of nervousness every time Al mentioned 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…
"That's enough. Drop it," Edward said sternly, clearly unwilling to continue—either from frustration or exhaustion.
Al frowned, but simply shrugged and focused on his food.
"Every time there's a problem, you say 'enough' like that settles it. Isn't this the time to actually resolve the issue? But I guess that's just how you are, Father." he commented.
"Al! Don't talk to Dad like that," Aurielle snapped.
Al chose silence instead, his gaze dull, not defiant—just tired.
Wasting energy on shallow drama like this isn't worth it, he thought, watching his hands calm from the tremor of earlier emotions. He didn't want his emotions to flare up again.
Edward stared hard at Al. His anger was rising.
Sandra noticed and gently touched her husband's arm.
"Husband..." she whispered.
Receiving that kind of response from his wife, Edward's anger began to subside. He wasn't an idiot—he understood the urgency of the issue, and it was only fair for Al to demand clear evidence before accepting the accusations thrown at him.
But tonight, he was exhausted. And for the first time in this house, a child had dared to defy him.
In the end, he wasn't a perfect father, and he wasn't used to dealing with a child like Al. That's why, in this moment, he found himself unsure of what to do.
Should I treat this boy the same way I would when an employee challenged my authority? Or should I act like a father—despite having no real experience dealing with a child who dared to push me back? He thought.
He was more familiar with his other seven children, who would fall silent and bow their heads the moment he raised his voice.
For now, he was more inclined to deal with it later and look into it more thoroughly.
Even if, deep down, he felt it was unlikely that David lied and that Al probably did it. But every remark Al made irritated him, making him feel the need to prove his assumptions were correct—and they always would be.
Edward sighed deeply and chose not to escalate.
"Enough. I'm tired. We'll discuss this another time. If you're truly innocent… fine. For now, there's something else we need to talk about."
Sandra nodded gently.
"I agree."
Al paused briefly and in the end nodded too.
The possibility of his emotions triggering something dark inside if he continued was a consideration. Even though nothing had really changed—except that, for now, a few of them seemed to dislike him even more.
And so dinner ended.
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. He needs to learn from the bottom. We didn't start from the same point. He came into this house carrying the wild influence of the outside world. If he's treated as equal right away, he might start thinking he can do whatever he wants here."
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 punishing me? Wasn't what happened earlier enough? Will you only be satisfied if I'm punished again? If so… I think there's something wrong with psychology of all of you," 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.
"But… if the goal is discipline, isn't that a bit extreme? That room is 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.
"And all these accusations about me being wild are just your assumptions. Stop mentioning them until you have stronger evidence. And... stop being irrational, don't disappoint my expectations of you,"
"Huh? Why do we feel like we're being judged instead?" Aurielle asked.
"Of course," Al replied. "If you all can judge me, why can't I?"
Aurielle could only slap her forehead, not knowing what to say. Al's behavior was thoroughly irritating to her.
"Al. Can you stop making things difficult?" Edward finally asked.
Al turned.
"Hm? I'm just saying what needs to be said, Father. Or do you just want me to be quiet and accept whatever you want? Ah. So this family is an authoritarian one? Noted," he said casually, as if he had just received new information.
"Al. Please. Speak properly. Stop being sarcastic, it sounds unpleasant," Sandra said this time.
"Mother… you asked me to speak nicely because my sarcastic words make any of you feel bad, isn't it?" Al said.
He then shook his head, with a sense of irony.
"But… when that woman openly says something clearly bad to me, you mostly stay silent or tell me to understand her, instead of actually stopping her. Strange," Al complained, taking a jab at Sarah.
Sarah looked irritated and wanted to respond, but this time she stayed silent.
Even so, Sandra tensed, her expression darkening. Edward also heated up again.
"Al. You!" Edward barked.
Seeing their reactions, Al felt a little pity for them. Even though they still seemed like strangers, his moral side reminded him that they were his parents.
And this is how morality works. Even when you're right, speaking harshly to your parents is still not a good thing. I had to hold myself back a little for that—for my mission here, he thought.
"Ah. Mother, Father, forgive me. I think I overreacted," he said, slightly more sincerely.
Though to some, the sentence still seemed slightly provocative.
Sandra could only grasp her husband's arm and turn away, holding back her discomfort to avoid crying.
Edward was still irritated and wanted to yell, but after a moment's thought, he chose to focus on what they should be discussing.
"Enough. Forget that. We need to talk about this now—I'm too tired to linger on it," he said.
Al nodded.
"So? Are you still insisting I sleep in the storage room?" he asked lightly.
Edward pondered briefly. His thoughts about Al sleeping in the storage room faded. He considered whether Al should stay in the house or temporarily be placed outside at a rented house not far from the Virellano residence.
Al also pondered something while waiting for Edward's response, and something made his lips curl into a slight smile.
Before Edward could say anything, Al spoke first.
"Father, if you really insist on disciplining me with that room choice, even though I feel I haven't done anything wrong, I'll accept it. 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,
Why someone as wild as Al would prefer to be under supervision rather than given a more private room?
"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.
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?
He simply sighed and followed Harun out of the room.
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