Love Beyond Expectations

Chapter 21: Unspoken Secrets

Suho carefully tucked his father into the large, well-decorated bed that had been the centerpiece of his parents' room for as long as he could remember. The room itself was adorned with elegant wallpaper, antique furniture, and framed family photos on the walls. It was a place of warmth and comfort.

"Is there anything else you need, Dad?" Suho asked, concern etched on his face.

His father, a shadow of his former self, weakly shook his head. "No, Suho, I'm fine. Thank you for bringing me home from physical therapy today. It's been a long week."

Suho sat at the edge of the bed, a familiar weight settling on his shoulders. He knew that the cancer was advancing, and it was only a matter of time before his father would have to leave the house permanently. Or...forever.

"Of course, Dad," Suho replied, his voice soft and reassuring.

"Have you eaten?" His father asked.

Suho shook his head. "Not yet, I was going to get something after I dropped you off. Is there anything I can get for you?"

"No, I'm okay," his father responded, his voice faint. "Go and eat, Suho. Take care of yourself."

"Dad," Suho said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm not leaving you. You're my responsibility as much as anyone else's, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

His father's eyes softened. "I know, Suho, and I appreciate it. But I'm fine. Go and eat, and come back later, okay?"

Suho nodded reluctantly, knowing that there was no point in arguing. "Okay, Dad. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

"Good boy," his father replied, a faint smile on his lips.

Suho nodded and gave his father a reassuring smile. He filled a glass with water, placing it on the nightstand within his father's reach, just in case. As he turned to leave the room, he noticed Joon leaning casually against the hallway wall.

"What are you doing here?" Suho asked, taken aback.

Joon shrugged. "I just wanted to see how Dad's doing."

Suho's eyebrows raised in surprise then narrowed his eyebrows. "Cut the crap, Joon. What do you want?"

Joon chuckled. "Fine, you caught me. I'm just here to give you a little reminder."

Suho's face fell, the dread in his stomach intensifying. "A reminder of what?"

Joon's face twisted into a sneer. "You know what, Suho. The arrangement. Dad's life. Don't forget it."

Suho took a step forward, his face mere inches from Joon's. "I won't forget. And I'm not letting anything happen to Dad, so don't try to threaten me. You can go fuck yourself."

Joon's expression remained impassive. "Whatever you say, Suho. Just remember, this isn't over."

Suho glared at his older brother. "No, it's not. And when this is over, we're going to settle things once and for all."

Joon chuckled, revealing a Cheshire cat smile that Suho had always found infuriating. "I know your secret," he said, his voice low and taunting.

Suho's heart raced, and a sense of dread washed over him. He had been careful, or so he thought. "What are you talking about?" he demanded, trying to maintain his composure.

Joon took a step closer, his gaze locked onto Suho's. "You've been acting strangely lately, bro. Sneaking around, making excuses. It didn't take a genius to figure out something was up."

Suho swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. He didn't know what to say, and his mind scrambled for a response. Suho's mind raced as he searched for a way out of the situation. He couldn't let Joon discover the truth about his fake relationship with Zuri. It was a fragile facade that he couldn't afford to shatter.