It was still early morning, around 5 AM and Viktor felt like taking a stroll in the large garden after all the talk with Taya, making him think about a lot of things that he thought he had buried.
He also knew Taya was hiding something from him and wondered what it was for her to go to such an extent.
However, while he was walking through the garden's pathway, he was surprised to see someone sitting on the bench reading a book.
"Brad?"
Brad, who was deeply engrossed in his book, was surprised to hear Viktor's voice and turned around to look at him with a smile, "Ho, what a pleasant surprise, Dorian. What made you get up early? Come, have a seat."
Since Viktor was dressed as Dorian, and both were sitting outside, he could only speak to him as a senior.
Viktor smiled, "Uncle Brad, I am also surprised to find you here." He sat down and continued, "You love reading books outside so early in the morning? Don't you feel cold?"
Brad shook his head as he softly laughed, "Not really. I don't do this every day. Only whenever I feel the mood for it and if I happen to wake up this early. And even if my bones are old, this cool and refreshing air strangely reinvigorates me."
He then looked at the thoughtful-looking Viktor and asked, "So what brings you here? Something in your mind?"
"Did I seem that obvious?" Viktor asked with a smile.
"Well, I have known you for the better half of my life, and whenever something is troubling you, you isolate yourself and spend some time on your own. Isn't that why you came here while everyone is asleep or away?" Brad asked as he deepened his voice.
"Is it about Taya? You two sorted things out, or is there something I don't understand?" Brad asked curiously.
Viktor sighed and said, "Well, there is something else as well other than Taya. But anyway, I think I can sort out things with her later when the right opportunity arrives. Anyways, from my side, I feel like things are looking clear about her. Now I can either wait for her to come out herself or take things into my own hand. Let's just wait and see."
Brad inwardly sighed in relief and said, "And here I thought you two might never go back to the way you both were. I don't know what is exactly going on between you two, nor do I want to be too nosy, but now that you don't have any hard feelings against her, I feel like things will soon return to normal between you both."
Viktor confidently said, "Don't worry, it will be. I can still feel her love for me. But whatever the reason she is holding back, I will soon find out."
Brad raised his brows and felt confused why Taya was holding herself back when things couldn't seem better, especially when Viktor was ready to be with her again.
"Alright. Then what is this other thing you were thinking about? Didn't you mention it before?"
Viktor's brows drew together as he thought about Umilia and could understand why Taya was concerned about her.
Seeing that Viktor was again getting lost in thoughts, Brad slightly smiled and asked, "Don't tell me this is about another woman? Perhaps Umi?"
Viktor rolled his eyes and looked at Brad with a look of disbelief, "Seriously, how do you guys even have the time to notice these things?"
Brad softly laughed, "Haha, time? Look at me. I am living my dream retired life doing nothing but reading and learning about different things. And this only means that I got enough time in my hands. Besides, the romantic tension in the air between you two is too palpable for Taya and me to not notice."
He then asked with a serious expression, "So whatever is going on with Umilia, is this about you being worried about falling in love again?" Brad knows about some of Viktor's past, especially that he was carrying some scars in his heart.
Even the fact that Viktor fell in love with Taya was astonishing for him after learning what he went through in the past.
"You know what, maybe a breath of fresh air in the hills might do you good. How about we two set out for a short trip to one of the most peaceful and beautiful islands of the Edos continent?" Brad asked in a spirited tone.
Viktor raised his brows and asked, "You mean the Twilnola Isle in the country Ishia?"
Brad nodded and said in a keen tone, "Yes. We could enjoy the various sights, scenery and maybe have drinks on the way. And just as people describe it, the scenery there is one of the best places to rest our mind and body without anything to disturb us. What do you think?"
Brad added with a veiled smile, "I also heard that during this time of the season, many tourists visit that place, especially all sorts of beauties."
Viktor chuckled as he said with a smile, "You cunning old fox. You really know how to hook me in, eh? You better hope Dina up there didn't hear what you just said."
Brad awkwardly chuckled as he said, "I hope not. Otherwise, once I join her, she will chase me with a gun till I drop, haha."
Viktor laughed along and then asked casually, "By the way, where is your son, Noah? Why did he shift from here?"
Brad sighed as his expression became a little complicated, "He...well let's just say we aren't exactly on talking terms."
"Oh…" Viktor was surprised as he didn't expect there to be a strain on the father-son relationship, considering how he remembered Noah as someone who was always very close with Brad when he was a kid.
He wondered what happened between them while he was gone, and Brad understood what Viktor wanted to ask and said, "It's about leading the family business, you know. He didn't like the fact that I chose Taya to be the Madam of our family when he said that I should have made him the patriarch considering how he was the eldest one and was well knowledgeable."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Actually, before Taya came back after going away, I had started to give some control of our family business to Noah and decided to observe how he fares before thinking about giving him full control."
"So, he didn't do well?" Viktor asked as he leaned in.
Brad slightly shook his head, "No, he knew how to do things and manage businesses. In fact, profits already started flowing in when he joined. But...the way he sometimes did things, I just couldn't accept it. It just went against the values on which I built my business, and he called me old-fashioned just because I questioned him with this. But he never understood how much our business meant to his mother and me and why we cared about always sticking to our values."
He then sighed as he said, "You did warn me about some of his odd behavior all those years ago. But I never took it to heart thinking that he was just a kid and learned my lesson the hard way."
Viktor said in a comforting tone, "Don't blame yourself for it, Brad. You couldn't have known, and as a father, you must have tried your best to see his brightest side. And well, you are not alone. Towards the end, he was becoming very wary of me...in fact, I think he was scared of me and would avoid me whenever I was nearby. It might be because he thinks I told you something bad about him."
Brad let out a dry chuckle as he shook his head and said, "Well, let him be. He is anyway leading his own successful business now. Anyways, you better pack your bags. I will book us two plane tickets, and then we can be on our way."
"Alright. But before that, I need your help with something."