Student Book 2 || Weirdie Stars

Chapter 30: New Member

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"I am Knaith."

Frederick's mind went blank for a second, shocked out of his mind.

"Knaith didn't die in the bombing, Knaith didn't become ash like mother and father. HeーI wasn't home that time," Chris continued.

Frederick gulped and looked down in confusion. Knaith didn't die? Does that mean, he still has a surviving family?

He was so relieved, so happy, he wanted to hug his younger step-brother as soon as possible. He remembered his first encounter with Knaith, when the younger threw him to the wall and choked him afterwards, demeaning and humiliating him, also revealing his scars that his father caused. After that day, the two stayed quiet and indifferent towards each other, never bothered to start a conversation as Frederick knew his position as his father's successor has been replaced and there was no place for him to enter between his father's new wife and son, and obviously his father himself.

But he was taught not to believe in any information without proof.

"... What proof... do you have?" He asked, trying to calm himself down from the excitement and curiosity.

Chris shrugged. "What proof? Well, nothing necessarily big, though I have nothing left since my birth certificate was burned down, and since my mother was an only child who no longer has parents when she remarried your father, I'm the last descendant of my family. Unlike you, you still have relatives that share the same blood. What can I prove, then? I don't know. Though I'm telling the truth, that I still hold the name Christophorus Knaith, your stepbrother."

Suddenly an idea popped up.

"Want to repeat our first encounter?"

"... Huh?"

"But, ah, there's no nearby wall in here. Nevermind, then," he laughed, "Do you trust me, though, that I am Knaith? Because I still haven't apologized properly."

What is he saying? Frederick asked to himself, frowning. Why would Knaith apologize? That doesn't sound like him at all.

"If you really are Knaith, then, what is your biological family's surname, before you came to the Christophorus household?"

Chris answered that question gladly, smiling, "Rousseau Knaith."

And yes, he answered it truthfully, Frederick knew. The Rousseau Group were the owner of a successful jewelry store in France that held many branches around the world, that's why if the Christophorus and Rousseau Groups join forces through marriage, the whole economic industry would be shaking.

Frederick trembled, muttering out words, "You really are Knaith, aren't you? I... want to believe that my last surviving family is still alive, please. So, I won't tolerate any lies."

"I'm not lying, I promise, brother."

Now that Frederick trusted the other wholly, he let himself being hugged tightly and warmly by the taller guy. He didn't know why, but in Knaith's arms, he felt so safe and secure. Maybe it's related to the fact that he was relieved that the boy who became his stepbrother personally chosen by his beloved father is here, hugging him tight full of love and longing. The younger too, being the one taller out of the two by at least 3cm, leaned down a little so that Frederick could rest his chin on his shouler. Ah, even after all these years, Knaith's built still beats Frederick's.