Taken by the Mafia ✧⁠*⁠。

Episode 32

Santa’s world crumbled before him as the weight of Perth’s words settled in. His voice, sharp and filled with pain, pierced through the night. "What do you mean our father died!?" he shouted, his shock echoing through the mansion.

Aunty Mai and Barcode heard the shout, rushing towards the entrance where Santa stood frozen, disbelief etched on his face. Aunty Mai was the first to reach him, concern in her voice. "What’s wrong, Santa?"

Santa, barely able to comprehend what he had just heard, struggled to find the words. His eyes darted between Perth and Jeff, betrayal clear in his expression. "Phi Jeff and Phi Perth... they said our father died, Aunty..." His voice was trembling, his shock too great to mask.

Barcode, who was right behind Aunty Mai, froze. His eyes widened in disbelief, his mind refusing to process what Santa had just said. "It’s not true, right?" Barcode’s voice was barely above a whisper as he turned to look at Jeff, desperately searching for any hint that this might be a cruel jokes.

But Jeff and Perth, who had been standing in the shadows, now walked towards them, their faces heavy with guilt and sadness. The silence that followed was deafening. Both men seemed unable to find the right words. Their hesitation only deepened the heartbreak in Santa and Barcode’s eyes.

Santa, his voice breaking, demanded again, "Answer me! What do you mean he’s dead?" Tears began to fall down his cheeks, and Barcode’s followed soon after.

Finally, Jeff spoke, his voice low and filled with regret. "I sent my workers to find your father... because I knew how much you both missed him. They told me he died a few weeks after we took you away from him. He had health problems, and..." Jeff couldn’t finish his sentence. The truth was too heavy to bear, even for him.

Barcode’s legs gave out beneath him, and he fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. Santa’s body began trembling uncontrollably. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions—shock, grief, and anger all clashing together. He couldn’t process it. He couldn’t understand how his father, the man who had fought so hard for them, was gone.

Perth reached out to steady Santa, wanting to hold him, comfort him, but Santa pulled away sharply. "Don’t touch me!" Santa’s voice was filled with pain and anger. "You knew, phi. You knew about it, but why did you hide it!? Do I seriously mean nothing to you!?"

Perth, heartbroken, tried to explain. "I didn’t know how to tell you, Ta. I didn’t want to hurt you…"

Santa shook his head, stepping further away from Perth, his tears flowing freely now. "I hate you!" His words were sharp, like a knife cutting through the air. Without another word, he turned and ran towards his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Perth moved to go after him, but Aunty Mai stepped in front of him, placing a hand on his arm. "Let him calm down," she said softly, her eyes filled with understanding.

Meanwhile, Barcode remained on his knees, staring up at Jeff, his heart broken beyond repair. "Why, phi? Why did you hide it from us?"

Jeff, who had always prided himself on his control, was now at a loss. His voice cracked as he spoke. "Code... I’m sorry."

Barcode slowly stood up, wiping his tears, his face a mix of heartbreak and disbelief. "I need some time alone," he whispered, his voice barely audible, before he turned and walked towards his bedroom, leaving Jeff and Perth standing in the hallway, speechless.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inside his room, Santa was a whirlwind of emotion. He paced back and forth, his chest tight with grief and anger. His hands shook as he grabbed items from his desk—books, night lamp, whatever he could find—and threw them across the room, the sound of things shattering echoing through the air. He felt like he was suffocating under the weight of the truth.