After stepping out of the house, Ellis declined his sister's offer to accompany him. Instead, he asked her for directions to the Alwksie residence block and headed there alone.
Walking through the streets at night, Ellis noticed that the lights were dimmer than usual, with fewer passersby and only the occasional car driving by.
Ellis took a moment to observe Zarechny city more carefully, something he hadn't done earlier that morning when he was preoccupied with his sister. However, his interest quickly waned; nothing in the city seemed important enough to hold his attention.
After some time, as Ellis neared the residence block in question and asked one of the passersby for directions, he was surprised to find that it was more like a complex of buildings guarded by the military. The people living there were either affiliated with the military or related to those who were, often with their families.
He couldn't help but frown. He hadn't given it much thought before, but it became clear that public security was still lacking. With many police and military personnel having been sent to the capital, this place was established to provide protection mainly for the families and people of importance who remained.
But Ellis couldn't help but frown, not understanding why they didn't have a place to stay here. If even his father, now a colonel, didn't qualify for an apartment here, then who the fuck would?
Not coming to an answer for now. Ellis approached the security guard, he was asked about the purpose of his visit and whether he lived there. He handed over his ID card and mentioned that his father, a colonel, was staying there.
The process went smoothly as the guard, recognizing his surname and the name of his father, promptly gave him a salute, letting at him enter.
So Ellis was sure there was a problem with his father—or rather, he realized his father was more of a fucking bastard than he had thought, but had hidden it well. Or had Ellis been blind to it all along?
As Ellis was going toward the building where he was told his father would be at, he heard his father's voice echoing, sharp and filled with anger. His father was shouting at a boy who seemed to be around fourteen years old.
While still at a distance, Ellis focused intently, straining to hear the conversation between his father and the boy.
"Did I not tell you not to come here?"
"But FATHER!"
"How many times do I have to explain this? General Andrey may have died, but there are still people who look up to him. And I just got promoted. So, wait a bit longer."
"And don't call me 'father' in public."
Stopping in his tracks, Ellis felt as though he had been struck by lightning upon hearing what the boy called his father. His father really continued to surprise him, now even the cliche bastard son had appeared.
Did his mother know? Even before that, what the fuck did his father mean, like what he is waiting for exactly? He had thought he was the one causing turmoil in their family due to his own issues, but it seemed there was an even bigger problem at play, with an even bigger bastard out there.
Feeling a seething rage inside, Ellis continued his way toward them, only to see his brother, Denis, approaching.
"Father, I'm sorry I couldn't prevent him from coming here. We stayed a bit longer inside the dungeon this time, and Mother was worried."
'Which mother?' while this question came to his mind immediately, he knew the answer already, as it was obvious from the situation. Just the shocking turn of event, was unfolding in even more of a dramatic way than some K-drama. Leaving him astonished.
What should he do? As Ellis neared them, he felt as if everything he previously believed was a lie. His resentment toward his father, stemming from his harsh treatment and the choice of university department, seemed insignificant compared to the revelation before him.
Should he just kill them all and be done with it? For the first time, Ellis considered the possibility of killing his father. While he did have some kind of hypocritical thoughts like he could have more than one lover but his father who had his mother can't. it was not just for this reason.
Letting him feel his life was a lie, was the main reason.
"Take him back to your mother and tell her—"
"Father."
Seeing his father stop talking, momentarily surprised by his presence, but taking one moment, as he returned to his cold like stone self, like he didn't do anything wrong. Ellis felt his rage raise even more.
"Do you want explain yourself?"
But after a moment of intense staring, Ellis decided to give his father the benefit of the doubt and a chance to explain himself.
"Why should I?"
"Huh?"
"Ellis, you're 23 years old now. Like grow up. Even after everything that happened in the world. Do you still want to be the same trash like in your university days?"
Hearing his father criticizing him, instead of repenting and asking for forgiveness. Then how he mention the university like it was some dark stain in his history, its cause was not him. And then how he started ridiculing him by calling him trash for the first time. Ellis felt even more ridicules at his audacity.
Not being able to restrain himself any longer, Ellis took a step forward and stood in front of his father. Then extending his hand, Grabbed him by the neck with a firm grip, he lifted him off the ground. And with a chilling, icy tone, he demanded again.
"Do you really think that I don't own you an explanation?"
"Then what about mother?"
Seeing his father's feeble attempt at resistance, Ellis scoffed inwardly and delivered a light punch to his gut. The impact caused his father to cough and gasp for breath, the pain momentarily overwhelming him, while most importantly suppressing his rebellious thoughts.