Chapter 639 - 14.35

"That kid! He brazenly stormed into my office and made a mess, and then still demanded me to come home early! He doesn't even say sorry after calling me heartless, so I scold and kick him out of the office!"

It was like thunder in the clear sky for Gaius. Clarke never yelled in front of him like this, let alone yelled to his kids. Although he wasn't the best Dad, at least he would still tolerate their children. 

Besides, what Hermes wanted was simple, he just wanted Clarke to come home because Artemis was sick!

Gaius took a deep breath, trying to contain his anger, "Clarke, Hermes just wanted you to come home early because there's a problem in the house. It's about arte—"

"THEN EDUCATE YOUR SON!" Clarke snapped out. He was so out of it. He was so exhausted and expected Gaius to at least shut up and let him have peace in mind. "HE STORMED IN, MAKING A MESS EVERYWHERE, AND WHEN I SCOLDED HIM, HE CALLED ME HEARTLESS!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TAKES CARE OF THE HOUSE, AND YOU CAN'T EVEN HANDLE ONE PROBLEM?! GO EDUCATE YOUR SON. I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!"

Gaius was shocked, truly shocked, when Clarke suddenly yelled to his face and then walked to their bedroom. He slammed the bathroom door, didn't even care about the children who were sleeping. 

Gaius slumped to the couch. He couldn't believe the ever gentle and sweet Clarke would yell at him. He already imagined how scary Clarke was when he yelled at Hermes.

Yet, Hermes didn't even cry or maybe tried to wash his face somewhere before facing him to hide that he cried.

Gaius felt even more guilty towards his son, and he was so angry at Clarke.

Yet, he didn't know what to do in situations like this. He was actually scared when Clarke yelled at him, too scared to react.

[Pupa…]

[Pupa: What?]

[Is this my life simulation?]

[Pupa: What do you mean?]

[This is exactly what my family life is in my world. My dad has always been ignorant, somewhat abusive, and too busy with his own life. My mom was depressed and always said that she's too depressed to even take care of me.]

[That's why I have always taken care of myself since I was young, I was Hermes in my life, I guess…]

[But at least Hermes doesn't have a bad Dad AND bad mom.]

[It hurts so much when you realize that none of your parents even care about your existence in the first place.]

Gaius collected his strength after a while. He walked to the bedroom and saw Clarke already sleeping soundly. As if what he said to Gaius and Hermes were nothing bad.

Gaius only stared at Clarke, but he had no intention to sleep with him tonight. He was scared and disappointed in him, but he didn't want to be that nosy wife who didn't understand how tiring it was to work for long hours. 

So Gaius silently took his pillow and sneaked into Artemis' room.

He gently laid beside Artemis, who was asleep, and then hugged her tightly, hoping the night would end soon because he couldn't stay like this forever. This pain in his heart and the fact that they had their first one-sided fight, with Clarke yelling at him ruthlessly. 

**

Morning came, and Gaius woke up early to prepare breakfast as usual. Hermes came out of his room while Artemis was sitting on the couch, playing with her dolls. 

She was well now, but Gaius didn't want him to go to the daycare, for now, afraid that he might get sick again.

"Hermes, go and pick up your little sister. Put her on her seat. We're going to have breakfast," Gaius ordered.

Hermes stared at his Mom, and said, "Mom, you fought with Dad yesterday, right? I heard everything…."

"Hush, it's just misunderstanding. Don't ever talk to your Dad about it, and don't ever come to his office again, okay?"

"… Okay, Mom…"

They had breakfast without Clarke because he was still washing before getting ready for another work. 

When he came out of the room, the kid and Gaius stared at him immediately. 

Clarke paused. He felt too ashamed to talk to Gaius right now, remembering what he said last night.

He was really exhausted, and he didn't have the energy to control himself. He lashed out without mercy at his own wife last night. Yet, he didn't know how to apologize because it was the first time he lashed out at Gaius. 

He was also guilty that he would meet his new young secretary this morning. 

So he became super awkward and fixed his tie in silence, heading straight to the door.

"Wait, Husband," Gaius rushed towards Clarke and gave him two boxes of breakfast and lunch. "I know that you're busy, but don't forget to have breakfast and lunch, okay?"

Clarke stared at the food prepared for his Wife. He was too ashamed to even look at her directly in the eye, so he just nodded with a low hum and accepted the food silently.

"Good luck with your work, Husband."

"Hm."

He didn't even give Gaius a kiss because he felt he undeserved to kiss his wife after yelling at him.

All Clarke wanted to do right now was avoid his family, clear his head, and then apologize to them.

Clarke left the apartment while Gaius stared at his back in the corridor. His heart was full of woe. Clarke didn't even bother to apologize for last night's incident. Even though it was clearly Clarke's fault.

He returned to the dining table weakly, eating his breakfast with the kids in silence. 

"Mommy, Daddy doesn't eat with us?"

"Ah, Daddy is busy. It's okay. Arte can accompany me today, right?"

"Un! We can play princess dolls from Uncle Reed!" 

Artemis showed her dolls again, and Hermes only watched in silence before noting how Uncle Reed treated them a lot better than Dad. 

'Dad doesn't love us…..' Hermes thought in his heart.