One Night

Midnight Hour

This one-shot is set months before The School Bully. Enjoy. (๑°꒵°๑)･*♡   

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"When will you stop being a disgrace to this family, John?"

John deeply regretted not sleeping early or leaving the house. The clock had just struck midnight when his parents returned from a party. He was stretched out on the sofa in his rooms and had been reading comics when they suddenly barged inside and began sniping at him.

"You didn't go to the Duke's party when I specifically told you to come." John's father was pacing in front of him, his face furious. "Even your friend Christopher went with his grandparents and yet I have no son to show for."

Such bullshit.

Skull just got dragged by his grandmother. And knowing him, he was probably gone before the hour was up.

Vincent was staring ahead from behind his parents when John glanced at him. His bodyguard had accompanied his parents to the party. Vincent caught him looking. Then he shook his head, telling John he was sorry he couldn't stop his parents from coming into his rooms.

"Answer your father, son," his mother quietly instructed and John focused on her.

John swallowed an angry retort. It was insane how they think he'd concede to their dictates. His father specifically told him to come? The man couldn't even be bothered to tell it to him personally, only sending a maid to give him this directive.

And his mother. His cold, unyielding mother.

Did she think she still could tell him what to do after the shit she put him through?

John knew he was being a rebellious brat. But he couldn't just put effort into anything his parents want him to do because they never really cared for him. They were only thinking about the family's reputation. They never even gave him praise for all the good things he'd done. So why bother?

"This is your fault," his father was telling his mother. "If you hadn't coddled him, if you hadn't spoiled him, he wouldn't turn out to be like this."

"And what would you rather have me do, Thomas?" His mother lifted a perfectly plucked brow. "Make him kneel on the hard ground? Whip his back and scream obscenities at him? Just like what you've done to him as he was growing up?"

"You keep protecting him."

"He's my son. I will keep protecting him. Even from you."

"Can you please not have a row in my room?" John sighed as he slowly sat up.

"See?" his father sneered at him. "Such disrespect. And you expect me to tolerate this?"

"He's still a teenager. He'll outgrow this. And please, John, for God's sake. Stop antagonizing your father."

"Haru Evans was a teenager when he started working for his father's company." His father pointed an angry finger at him. "And I want you to do the same or I'll cut off your allowance and throw you out of the house."

Another threat his father would never carry out.

"Thomas, you'll only be creating a scandal if you do that."

"I'm sick of this behavior, Fiona. It's time he remembered how fortunate he was to be born in this family."

Fortunate? John begged to disagree.

"He has good grades," his mother argued. "And he has been consistently bringing back the Excellency Award from the STEM summit every year. Your son is not completely hopeless."