Flowers of Despair || Haruto from TREASURE

twenty-seven

tw // physical abuse ; please skip this chapter if this triggers you

April 13, 2022

It's been a couple of days since Eunhye last slept in their family home. She tried her best to avoid Apollo at all costs cause she was mad at him for letting someone else take care of her while she was drunk. The maids in their house told her he was heading out for today so she decided to pay a visit to her parents.

She quietly entered the large front door and took small steps to the formal dining area where she saw her parents' backs facing her while they were talking to Apollo. He looked annoyed as he gritted his teeth and folded his arms across his chest. It must've been a bad day to visit now that she saw him. To her dismay, he caught her gaze which made her parents turn their heads at what he was looking at.

"Gracielle, I didn't know you would be coming home today." Her father looked at her.

"Yeah, I had some free time so I wanted to visit." She softly said.

"Can you please sit down? We would like to talk to you and your brother." She nodded her head and sat a seat apart from him.

"Is it true, Eunhye?" Her mother asked while struggling to hold back her tears.

"W-What..." She stuttered.

"Is it true that your brother left you drunk and didn't bother taking you home that's why you suddenly didn't sleep here for the past couple of days?"

Without hesitation, she replied. "Yes." Apollo balled his fist tightly, trying his best not to get mad. "H-How did you know?" She asked while avoiding their gaze.

"Your etiquette instructor paid us a visit and explained what happened when the news about you going to a club emerged." Her dad said.

"Tell us what really happened. Please." Her mom told her.

She glanced at Apollo who was giving her a look, as if he was telling her not to tell them. Of course, she doesn't care. They asked her a question, she just has to answer honestly.

"I went with Apollo to his friend's party because he threatened to tell dad that I was dating someone even if I was not. He never told me that the party would take place in a club which I'm not supposed to enter cause of my contract. Aside from that, I'm still not at the right age to enter but I was cut some slack cause I was a princess." She looked down at her fingers as she played with it.

"I got drunk with one of his friends and we passed out, I woke up in my friend's apartment and he told me what happened and why I was there. Apollo didn't want to take me home cause he wanted me to "enjoy the night", making our etiquette instructor and the birthday celebrant look after me."

Her father buried his face in his hands and and let out a shaky breath. "Don't you know how risky it is to put your sister's life in danger?" He told Apollo with an annoyed look on his face.

"Oh c'mon, she's turning 18-"

"I don't care if she's turning 18, she's going to be a queen one day and we need to protect her at all costs!" Their father surprisingly yelled.

Eunhye's eyes widened as she heard her dad snap, it was rare to see him angry because he's a very fun and light-hearted person. Anyone could ease up to him in no time.

Apollo rolled his eyes and banged his fist to the table. "Why do you always take her side? I'm the first-born, I was the one staying with you in France when she followed her stupid K-Pop fantasy dream yet you give the throne to her even if she shouldn't have the freaking title of a queen? Why can't you ever side with me?"