Just a bit twisted

To put it mildly, it was an embarrassing dinner.Let's be honest, it's not embarrassing: it's pretty darn good.

Just 10 minutes after sitting down, Sean started looking at the grandfather clock against the wall to check the time.

The negative aura in the room was so thick that it could almost be cut into pieces.He had never seen such a degree of passive confrontation between families.Sean is now relieved that Emily and Bee cannot sit with adults.

What was really irritating was that no one in the room would say a word; all problems were masked behind a grin and polite demeanor.Vivienne's husband, Andrew, was the only one who could not control his dissatisfaction with his brother-in-law.

Rutledge didn't pay much attention to Andrew; the worst things he said were directed at his father.Rutledge had a reputation for being mean and ruthless in college, but that was nothing compared to the harsh treatment he was having with his father now.Sean would have felt sympathy for the old man if Joseph Rutledge hadn't gone further.In just 10 minutes of the opening, Joseph scolded his son thoroughly from IQ to sexuality, his tone was full of sarcasm and contempt.

Watching the two of them like this, Sean gradually understood why Rutledge refused to return after 15 years of leaving home.He also gradually understood why Rutledge had become such a control freak.Under the influence of his father's domineering personality, he developed a similar desire to control everything, probably for the sake of confrontation.

"They realize how much alike they are, don't they?" Sean muttered in Vivian's direction, making sure that Rutledge, who was sitting on the other side of him, couldn't hear him.Among the people at the table, only Vivian looked kinder.

She sighed. "I suppose that's part of the reason they're at odds," she murmured. "But deep down, they still care about each other."

Sean looked at the father and son who were fighting each other, and gave her a hesitant look.

Vivian smiled miserably. "I know it's unbelievable, but my father really cared about Drake." Her eyes became ethereal. "When we were kids, he was always so proud of my dad. I used to be jealous of Drake. When my dad found out about Drake's sexuality, it became... tricky, but I believe him You must still care about him. If you really don't care, he would have severed his father-son relationship with him many years ago and excluded him from the list of heirs to the inheritance." She glanced at her husband and said in a low voice. "Andrew is outraged by this. He has worked in the family business for so many years and feels that he should inherit the company."

"Ah," Sean said.In this way, Andrew's hostility towards Rutledge is easily explained.

Just talking about Andrew, this person turned to face Sean at this time and asked him, "What do you mean, do you have a job? Or just show my brother-in-law and he will give you money."

The whole table suddenly fell silent, and Sean felt hot all over.

He couldn't believe that Andrew could actually say that.And seeing the uneasy look on that face, Andrew himself certainly didn't believe it.However, Andrew still tightened his jaw and put on a stubborn and determined expression: Maybe he regretted saying that, but he obviously didn't intend to take it back.

Sean bit his lip, not knowing what to say.Andrew's speech almost hit the nail on the head.Of course no one here would know his real relationship with Rutledge, but even so, he was deeply embarrassed and ashamed.Sean hadn't been able to fully accept this relationship, but now...he felt like he was really selling himself.It's ridiculous, but this is the first time he really felt this way.When he was sucking Rutledge's dick for money, he didn't feel like he was selling; sitting in this fancy restaurant with a bunch of snobs made him feel like a prostitute.

"Sorry." It was Rutledge.Although the voice was peaceful and cold, everyone in the room could hear it clearly.

Andrew shot Rutledge a sideways glance. "Why should I apologize? Everyone can see that he is poor, and the person who slept with you is—"

"You apologize," Rutledge said, in that dangerously soft tone.

“Andrew, please,” Vivian said awkwardly. "There's no need to do that to—"

"Apologies," Rutledge repeated.

Joseph Rutledge watched the confrontation between his son and his son-in-law like a hawk.

"It's okay," Sean said softly.

Rutledge didn't take his words seriously and continued to glare at Andrew, who looked increasingly disturbed. "He'll apologize, or we'll be gone."

Sean thought it was funny to make such a threat, because it was too late for Andrew to be happy because they were gone, but Joseph Rutledge frowned. "Sorry, boy. No one is allowed to humiliate my guests."

Except you, Sean thought jokingly.

Andrew said stiffly, "I apologize if I offended anyone. That was not my intention."

Rutledge still looked relentless, his whole body tensed and his eyes narrowed.

"If you must know," Sean said to Andrew. "I'm a student who works part-time as a waiter. Yes, Drake pays for a large part of my living expenses. I don't feel embarrassed about it. I feel lucky to have such a solid, reliable partner .” He met Andrew’s gaze. "Even if I 'open my legs to him', it's not because of the money, and this matter has nothing to do with you." Sean raised his eyebrows. "I don't know how you think of this, Andrew. Unless you're jealous."

He smiled slightly, waiting for the bastard's face to gradually turn red.Sean didn't care at all about the awkward silence that suddenly enveloped the room after everyone was shocked by his words.He picked up the fork and continued eating, no one paid attention.

He could feel Rutledge's eyes on him.

Sean didn't turn to look.