Chapter 277: Can You Give Father a Chance?
The Everwake’s handsome face instantly turned as white as a sheet.
A Swarm gland. It was meant to ensure a female wouldn’t mate with another male before she conceived a child.
He had indeed done it with that intention at the time, but he hadn’t considered that Evangeline was in heat. For a Swarm gland to block her system, even for a single day, could have been extremely dangerous.
’She could have died.’
The thought flooded his mind, and The Everwake unconsciously clenched his fists.
Or perhaps, it wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of it, but that he had deliberately ignored the dangerous possibility.
Abandoned by the Swarm as a child, he had left the Triangle Abyss and ended up a stray in the Oasis Tribe. He’d never had a single good day, never had anything to call his own. When Evangeline chose him, he thought he could finally escape his miserable life. He never imagined his real suffering would begin with her heat. He had lost his life in that cave.
From the moment he emerged, transformed, he had told himself he would never be humiliated by anyone ever again.
’I will reclaim what is rightfully mine!’
After a night of passion with Evangeline in the Iridian Clan’s territory, he had left the Swarm’s gland in her with almost no hesitation.
Though he was loath to admit it, as they made love in the trees, he had seen her as his possession. He didn’t want any other male to touch a single hair on her head. Even knowing it was impossible, he had wanted to do something to make it so.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left a member of the Swarm without a Transformation Ability to watch over the unconscious Evangeline after he left.
The Everwake offered no explanation. His hands were clenched into fists, veins bulging on them. Only after a long moment did he manage to suppress the turmoil in his heart.
He took a deep breath, his rainbow-colored compound eyes fixed on Evangeline. Just as he was about to speak, Evangeline cut him off, her tone impassive. "Don’t feel troubled. I was the one who initiated it that night. I’ll bear any consequences myself."
She had never blamed The Everwake, much less needed his apology.
’Unlike the other males, The Everwake truly "died" at the hands of the original owner of this body. A life is so precious. It would be strange if he were as easy to win over as the others.’
"Genesis." Evangeline’s lips curved into a small smile as she beckoned to the child.
The little one’s face was streaked with tears. But hearing Papa Thorne’s angry accusations, his flushed little face had turned pale. He had already withdrawn the small hand he’d been reaching out to The Everwake. His mama had almost been killed by his father.
Now, looking at his mama’s gentle face, Genesis’s tears started falling again.
He gently vibrated his Feather Wings and flew out of Thorne’s arms, tumbling unsteadily into Evangeline’s embrace.
Throughout the process, he didn’t spare The Everwake a single glance. He thus failed to notice the arm The Everwake couldn’t help but reach out when he saw his clumsy figure, his handsome, wild face taut with tension.
Only when he saw Genesis’s small form fall into Evangeline’s arms did he let out a soft sigh of relief.
But immediately after, the thought of his clumsy flying made The Everwake’s heart ache.
A child’s flight and hunting skills should be taught by their father. And even though the Swarm’s children multiplied quickly and in great numbers, a father’s responsibilities were still immense—even greater than those of an ordinary Beastman male.
’My child... he’s already grown so big, yet he can’t even fly properly.’
The thought sent another sharp, twisting pain through The Everwake’s chest.
Evangeline held Genesis. The little one lay listlessly in her arms, unwilling to get up, seemingly having given up on his father holding him. He knew. His father was going to be with another female, have other children, and would never want him again.
’I’m just an abandoned child. Only Mama and Big Sis will always be with me.’
’So what if I don’t have my real father? Papa Caden, Papa Thorne, Papa Danton, and Papa Loras... I like them all. I want to be with them forever. They are all my fathers!’
Genesis told himself this silently, but his tears wouldn’t stop streaming down his face.
"Genesis, go let your father hold you," Evangeline said, gently patting his back.
At her words, The Everwake’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if his entire being had been illuminated.
However, Genesis just pressed his lips together and clung tightly to Evangeline, refusing to look back.
The light faded from The Everwake’s rainbow-colored compound eyes. He clenched his hands so tightly his knuckles turned white, as if trying to use the pressure to counteract the tearing pain in his chest. His throat bobbed, and he rasped, "Gen... Genesis..."
The name came from his lips laden with intense emotion.
He knew what it meant for Evangeline to have given their child this name. She loved his child.
"I never thought of abandoning you. I just... I just never knew... never knew you existed."
"I’m sorry, Genesis. From now on, I will always be with you. I’ll stay with you forever, okay?"
"Genesis, can you give your father a chance?"
The Everwake’s gaze was fixed on Genesis, his throat bobbing violently. For once, his thin, cold voice was filled with emotion.
He seemed incredibly anxious, his slender body tense, unwilling to tear his eyes away for even a second.
’I thought that as the male lead of the book, a ruthless and brutal male with a tragic past, his personality would be incredibly sensitive and proud. I never expected him to be willing to openly admit his faults—even grovel like this—in front of so many people. It’s completely beyond my expectations.’
’Still, this shows his attitude toward his child, Genesis.’
’If Genesis is willing to go with him, I can rest easy. It’s just... he’s about to have a "stepmother." I’ve heard that when there’s a stepmother, the father becomes a "stepfather." I wonder if that’s true.’
At this thought, Evangeline’s gaze couldn’t help but shift toward Hecate.
Her brow suddenly furrowed. Queen Hecate, who had been standing right there just a moment ago, had vanished at some point.
The warriors of the Corrosive Swarm, however, remained where they were, glaring at her and Genesis with hatred.
Hearing The Everwake’s words, Genesis’s small body trembled, and he suddenly burst into choked sobs.
Children are the best judges of kindness and malice. He could hear in those words how much his father cared for him.
"Genesis?" Hearing the child’s suppressed sobs, The Everwake’s breathing grew short and hot.
Just then, Evangeline’s expression faltered. Her long, narrow eyes half-closed as she stepped forward, held out Genesis, and placed the child in The Everwake’s arms. Her voice was flat. "Something’s wrong. I’m afraid the Blade-Wing Insectoids have fallen into a trap."
The Everwake was still immersed in the feeling of the soft, sweet-smelling child in his arms, not even registering Evangeline’s words.
He held his child tightly, his movements awkward and nervous, yet filled with profound tenderness.
Thorne heard Evangeline’s words, and a cold glint flashed in his jade-green vertical pupils. Just as he and Loras were about to disembark, he suddenly heard Evangeline say, "The Everwake, have the Blade-Wing Insectoids—your warriors—board the ship."
