Bigger Brain

"Can you stop it? Your father seems very angry right now," Ayana looked at the man helplessly, knowing that Luca was using her to make his father angry.

Mark's face got darker when he looked at Luca and Ayana. In his vision, the couple looked like they were flirting with each other.

"Luca, let's talk with me for a bit in the study," Mark coldly gestured to his son to follow him upstairs, but Luca rejected it directly.

"Let's just talk about it here, father. It seems like my wife is unwell. We need to go back, so she can rest earlier," Luca said with a voice full of worry.

Ayana felt like her head was throbbing. She was going to get sick for real just looking at the man's pretentious nature.

The vein in Mark's head was bulging. He was going to roar when Irene's calm voice sounded from the corner of the room.

"It sounds like a great idea. Luca will meet you tomorrow after breakfast," Irene said as she gestured to Luca to bring Ayana out.

Luca then attentively led her wife out of the house toward their car as Ayana tried her best not to roll her eyes at this man who acted like she would fall down without his help.

"This is because of you! That bastard, how dare he stand against me for that lowly human!" Mark roared while pointing at Irene when Luca's car left The Winter's residence.

"You need to calm down," Irene warned Mark, trying to calm the raging bull. She could not believe that the last pureblood vampire was this hot-tempered and childish. She was in disbelief at how nature let this stupid man outlive other excellent vampires with this kind of childish behavior.

"Calm down!? You told me to calm down?! Did you see what the bastard does to me? He embarrassed me in front of the Baynes! How dare he!" Mark roared, unable to control his anger.

"You need to calm down! Didn't you know how Luca is? He is your child. You must have known that brat would do something to show disobedience even without Ayana appearing in this diner. He disliked the engagement with Baynes' daughter." Irene tried to reason with the man.

All this time, Luca has long shown his disagreement in his engagement to Baynes' daughter, but Mark never took that seriously. He never heard his children's opinion. He would make all the decisions and told his child confidently that this is for the best. Everything about his children's future is already set in stone. All of them will help him gain the highest position in District 2. 

Luca has shown some rebellious behavior clearly in front of his parents. He always ignored Skylar, the woman who was supposed to be his wife. If he was in a bad mood, he would give a rude remark, or even treat the girl harshly in front of their family.

Irene was even sure that Luca would kill the poor girl and dispose of her body if they left Skylar with him just for a day.

She still remembered the time when they had a vacation together on one of Mark's private islands. Luca almost killed the poor girl. Although after that the Winter and Baynes family pretends like everything was only a small incident. Mark even assured the Baynes couple that everything was under his control and Luca would hear him after this.

Irene couldn't even believe that the Baynes would buy such a lie when Luca did not show any regret after what he did. Luca did not even apologize to Skylar like a gentleman. Since everyone acted like nothing was wrong, Irene just followed along.

Irene realized that Mark was angry not because of Luca's usual disobedience, but because he stood on Ayana's side. He never showed his rage after Luca's disobedience. He only said that boys would always act like boys and other phrases that made all the trouble Luca created was a normal thing.

There was no difference between what Luca did now and all his mischievousness in the past. Although today, there was an external factor like Ayana's presence and Luca's fondness of Ayana. 

Mark's resentment toward humans was well known in his family and close friend circle. If Luca's dislike toward humans was shown in the form of killing, Mark's animosity toward humans was hidden beneath his good image as the last pureblood vampire.

People expected the last pureblood vampire to be charismatic and glorious, so he showed them what they wanted to see. The brutal murderers he did were covered from the public eyes. Irene initially thought Luca was going to be like his father, but her prediction was proved wrong with Ayana's appearance.

Luca will be different from his father since he has a bigger brain, Irene thought inwardly as she saw Mark starting to vent his anger by punching the desk. 

Irene knew that Luca only used Ayana to make his father angry and he is good at that. He knew the exact spot to poke. He knew that he could ignite Mark's anger with his words and behaviors like today. He only behaved and acted like Ayana and Mark already lost his mind. 

Irene pinched her nose bridge in frustration. It is easier to talk with a five-year-old kid than an angry arrogant Mark. He would lose all his reason when he was angered. She suddenly wants to applaud the hard work of all the people around Mark to hide this rotten image.

"Bridget, take care of your husband. Luca and I will be back tomorrow," Irene said as she looked at her daughter and walked to the front door.

Mark was roaring. Screaming the rotten words from his mouth to vent his frustration. He even started to smash the things around him when screaming and punching the desk were not enough anymore.

Irene did not care anymore. She should have left with Luca earlier. There was no point in staying in this place when she could not even converse properly with Mark.

Irene just took a deep breath when she exited from the front door when her eyes caught a familiar figure. The frown between her eyebrows showed how displeased herself with Nicolaus' presence there. Nicolaus was waiting for her at the end of the stairs, opening the car door for her

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you go back with Luca and Ayana?" Irene asked when she was just a step away from Nicolaus.