𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄

Chapter Four

It was when August heard the office door open and watched Oliver run off that he slowly made his way down to the office. He knew exactly how poor Oliver felt due to the fact that he too had to go through that also. Multiple, multiple, times. Was it even appropriate for Oliver to go through that punishment now? August thought as he opened the office door revealing Azeil at his desk doing work with a glass of whiskey next to him.

August scoffed, "You're drinking already? It's not even twelve yet." But it was as if the clock had heard August  and ticked to twelve straight away. August deadpanned as Azeil had smirked at him with glass raised. He took a victory sip before patting that old digital clock his father gave to him before passing. "As you were saying?" Azeil said with a now more confident mood than before as he got to work. Though August just rolls his eyes at his older brother, he can't seem to reason why the small things that happen are just a reminder of the authority he has over August.

"So, how did it go?... I just saw Oliver run out crying so I just thought I would ask." August sits down on the chair across from the desk. Azeil sighs heavily as his confident vibe seems to shrink down to a minimum talking about the punishment. His younger brother always had the habit of saying how one is feeling perfectly. It was as if he had been a psychiatrist for years now and this was just another session for him. However, it did seem like the right profession for him anyway, and he has always mentioned that if the family business would allow it then he would. But he's been so scared to move forward from the company and the feeling of guilt hits him whenever he does anything that isn't in line with his parent's wishes.

Azeil knew he was going to have to discuss the pressing situation now or later. He'd just wish the now would come much, much, later. "It didn't go so well in all honesty. At first he had this little mouth on him, but after spanking him he didn't even try to accept the "aftercare", Azeil air quoted, mocking August. "In fact, he pushed me away when I tried to hug him and then well, you know what happened next." He took another drink from his almost empty glass of whiskey.

August was silent for a moment as he evaluated the mess before him. It wasn't peculiar that Oliver isolated himself after the punishment; no one really wants to be all friendship and rainbows with someone who had just given them a punishment . But it was unusual that Oliver didn't want to accept the aftercare that came with it. In this family, discipline was always something that you had to follow; no matter what. Frequently August had trouble trying to understand why obedience was such a big deal, granted, he knows why now. But Oliver never had any discipline growing up with his grandpa. August could infer that his grandpa didn't really see the need of Oliver following order because of him losing his parents so early on.

August has read multiple studies on how the change of environment can change a person's character in response. Oliver has isolated himself because of the unfamiliarity of his circumstance. Not only that but he's pushing away both brothers because the only love he has received was from his grandpa, but unfortunately he doesn't have him anymore. Was Oliver scared to lose both brothers?

"What did Oliver do when he first came here?" August questioned Azeil. His brother was confused by the off task question but nonetheless responded. "He stayed in his room all the time. Sometimes I would have to tell him to come have dinner with me. It was like he was always"-

"Isolating himself." August finished off the words for his older brother. "He is isolating himself because he's scared I think. He's pushing us away before we push him away is what his logic is playing at. I think that he hears how much we love him, but he doesn't know how much we love him." August concludes with a heavy heart. It did make sense to Azeil the way August was laying it out for him. But the problem was; he didn't know how to fix it. How can you show love to someone if they keep growing farther and farther away?