"Oh Declan, it is you. Come in", Irene invited, she was a little surprised to see Declan back at the mansion since she had been informed by the servants that he only left this morning. It was rare for him to visit while Elian wasn't around. "That's alright. I just came to have a quick word with you", Declan said. "What happened? You look a little stressed. Everything alright?", she asked. "Well, I need your help, but before that I need to tell you something", Declan said in a low voice. "Ooh is it a secret?", Irene asked teasingly. "It is, and you can't tell Elian I told you. And you have to promise that you'll help", Declan said, maintaining his serious tone. "Okay, I promise. What's the secret?", she asked.
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Declan narrated to her the series events of this morning and the day before. However he was surprised when Irene's expression didn't quite display the shock he had been expecting. "Huhh...so much happened in such little time", she commented. "Yes, exactly. Aren't you surprised? That they're actually trying to pull off something like this", he asked. "I'm not shocked at all. They both had quite an extreme reaction towards each other since Kian moved in", she replied. Declan was slightly confused listening to her , "Yeah but now you have to help me stop Elian, we can't let him do something so stupid", he said. "Okay, but why do you say he is being stupid?", she asked smiling. Declan paused for a few seconds, he didn't expect her to ask something so obvious, "Well, don't you see it? He doesn't even know that boy and he's planning to have a baby with him under this weird contract. How on earth is this a normal decision?", he ridiculed. "Oh sweetie, when has anyone from his family been normal. How would he know normal when he has never seen it? If anything I'm relieved that he's not like the rest of them. Instead of chasing power and possessions, undermining their own wishes and hiding their true selves underneath the pretense of 'traditional' guise, he's trying to achieve his happiness. Don't you appreciate that?", she asked. Declan was amazed at her response, he hadn't thought of it this way. "Yeah…..but still, what if he's just being rash? And Erik isn't going to be happy, you know that right?", he said . Irene's smile faded slightly, "Yes, Erik isn't like him. He's more like his grandfather isn't he? That scares me a little sometimes. If he finds out he'll probably do something drastic, I hope Elian hasn't told him yet", she said.
"Yes, exactly. You have to help me. Do you know where he lives or anything about him that can help? I'll have to talk to him alone and sort this out before Elian loses his mind completely", he pleaded. "Alright, I never asked where he lived, but he did mention a bakery near the suburbs, I think he said near those gentrified factories. That's all I can give you", she told him. "That's good enough, I'll find him", he said excitedly. Even though Irene was sure that Declan meant nothing but the best for Elian, she felt the need to warn him before any damage happens to their friendship. "Wait", Irene stopped him, "I know you care about your friend so you wouldn't do anything wrong. But don't belittle his decisions and emotions by calling them stupid. He's wise enough to tell what's stupid and what's not", she said. Declan nodded and walked away back to his car wondering about Irene's words. It wasn't that he didn't care about Elian's feelings, he just didn't want his friend to make a mistake that he couldn't fix.
Declan was feeling a little hesitant driving through the suburbs, although it was the same city it seemed like an utterly different world. Streets were narrow and uneven, dwellings were crowded next to one another and crowds were bustling on the pavements. However, ignoring the trivial details, he kept driving looking for the bakery Irene had told him about. After a huge struggle he finally managed to find the place he came looking for, which was rather disappointing to look at. He wondered if he had been given the right address, looking at the rubbles and shambles, standing uncomfortably in front of the shop. "Excuse me? Can I help you?", A soft voice came from behind him. He turned around and saw a young boy standing in front of him. He was almost the same height as Kian, but his features were sharper and his built was even more slender than that of him. Even though there were a few bruises on his chin and his lips his face looked pretty. He appeared so delicate as if there wasn't even a single shred of muscle in his body. He was wearing an oversized hoodie and slim with jeans that were slightly torn around his knees. "Yeah, I'm loo-looking for a bakery around this area?", Declan stuttered. "Oh, this is the only bakery in this sector, but for now we're closed, only for a while though. We'll be opening again by next week for sure. Sorry for the inconvenience", the boy replied smiling politely. Declan immediately understood that the boy worked in the bakery and he was mistaking him for a customer. "Uhh, That's alright because I didn't come here to buy anything", he replied, "If you don't mind would you help me look for someone?". "Okay..", the boy said timidly. "Do you know someone by the name of Kian Maier that works in this bakery?", he asked.
The smile on the boy's face was replaced with a little frown, "No, I don't", he said scathingly and turned to walk away from him. Declan immediately reached and grabbed his hand, "Wait, I know you're lying", he said. The boy pulled and slipped his hand out of Declan's grasp. "Look I don't mean any harm. I just want to talk to him", he tried to convince. "Why don't you talk to me and I'll make sure to convey your message", the boy suggested with a sarcastic smile. "Well then tell him to immediately abort the child and leave Elian alone. If he tries to manipulate my friend anymore using his pregnancy he'll have to face some serious consequences", Declan stated. Listening to him Will's face turned red with anger, "Do you really believe he's the one manipulating? Your friend was the one who forced himself on Kian when he was in heat. He was the one who wanted to have a child. So don't you dare come here and threaten us", Will fought back. For some reason his ferocity felt impressive to Declan, "Alright, then maybe I can make another deal with him. If he's only doing this for money, I'll give him enough to stay away", he offered. "If you are thinking about offering him pity money then forget about it. He doesn't like receiving sympathy from the privileged", the boy replied. "Oh is that so? Then why is he doing this in the first place? Isn't he basically demanding money for keeping his own baby? Like he is doing Elian a favor? When Elian is the one who'll be taking such a huge risk and responsibility.", Declan countered. Will crossed his hands in front of his chest, "If you look from his perspective, he is doing a favor. And what kind of risk is your rich alpha friend is taking? If he changes his mind at any point he can just get rid of the baby without any consequences. Every possible solution of a problem is within the reach of his fingers, but Kian can't do that. If things get messed up his entire life will be ruined. Have you ever thought about that?", he asserted. Declan couldn't fight back, the boy had valid point. "Look I didn't come here to fight with you. I just want to stop them somehow from doing this", Declan replied with frustration in his tone. "I don't want this to happen either, but sometimes you just have to suck it up. If you can't respect their decision and support them, then just back off", the boy said and walked in through the messy and broken door of the bakery. Declan was left by himself wondering if he could really do what the boy said. And if he couldn't would that scar his friendship with Elian?