Taming the Devil

Chapter 45: The Breaking Point

Next day, Almond stood at the edge of the balcony, the chill of the night air wrapping around him as he stared out over the sprawling mansion grounds. The weight of the conversation with his friends yesterday, and his father’s threats, pressed down on him like a stone in his chest. He could hear the faint sound of the wind, but it did little to calm his restless mind.

Everything felt like it was slipping through his fingers. His friends, his father’s expectations, his desire for a life he couldn’t have—it was all too much. But the hardest part was the nagging thought in the back of his mind, the one that kept whispering, What will happen to Progress?

He could no longer pretend that he wasn’t being consumed by his obsession. The feelings he had for Progress, the warmth, the tenderness—it was all real. But was it worth it? Was it worth risking everything for someone who had no idea what he was really involved in? Almond’s grip on the railing tightened as the questions swirled in his mind.

He’d always known what was expected of him, but he hadn’t expected to fall in love. He hadn’t expected to feel so vulnerable, so exposed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. His father’s words from earlier echoed in his mind—You are the heir to this family. You are above everyone else. Do not allow your emotions to weaken you. The family business comes first, always.

But Almond couldn’t turn off his feelings. He couldn’t deny the desire to protect Progress, to be with him, to make sure he never got caught in the web that was slowly swallowing him whole.

The soft chime of his phone broke him from his thoughts. Almond looked down to see a message from Progress. His heart skipped a beat as he quickly unlocked the phone.

Are you okay? You’ve been distant lately.

Almond’s fingers hovered over the screen. He wanted to tell Progress everything, to confess the turmoil he was feeling. He wanted to pour his heart out and let him know how much he meant to him. But the reality of the situation hit him like a cold slap. His father was watching. Every step he took, every move he made, was being monitored. And if he let Progress in, if he allowed his emotions to show, it could destroy them both.

He placed the phone down with a shaky breath.

Suddenly, the door to his room opened, and in stepped Kritt, Mawin, and Fee. Almond didn’t have to look up to know that they were all here for the same reason. Their expressions were grim, their eyes filled with understanding, and they knew what had to be done.

Mawin, as always, was the first to speak. “Almond, you know how things work. Your father won’t give you a choice. He’s already sent his people to keep tabs on you. And we... we’ve already made our moves.”

Almond looked at them, his eyes clouded with confusion and frustration. “What do you mean? What moves?”

Fee, usually quiet but direct, crossed his arms. “We can’t protect you forever. Your father isn’t just angry about your feelings for Progress. He’s angry because you’ve stopped showing interest in the family business. He’s already talking about sending you away. Abroad. Is that what you want?”

Almond’s chest tightened. “I don’t want any of this. But I don’t know how to get out. If I stop doing what he wants, if I give up the life he’s planned for me, everything will fall apart.”

Kritt stepped forward, his voice heavy with the weight of their shared history. “That’s exactly why we’re here, Almond. You can’t escape it. Your father’s hold on you is too tight. He’s already made his decision. If you don’t shape up, you’ll be sent away to another country. Away from Progress. Away from everything you’ve known.”

Mawin nodded. “Your father controls everything—your life, your friends, your future. He’s not going to let you slip away. Not now. Not when the entire family business depends on you.”

Almond felt a rush of panic. His hands trembled as he gripped the edge of the bed, staring at his friends in disbelief. “But I... I can’t just abandon him. I can’t leave Progress behind. He’s the only thing that’s real to me. The only thing that doesn’t come with expectations.”

Fee shook his head. “We all understand, Almond. But you have to understand that we’re stuck in the same web. You’re not the only one feeling trapped. Our fathers are all watching us. They want us to focus. They want us to be the leaders we were born to be. If we don’t prove ourselves, we’ll be discarded. And that means you, too. You’re the heir, Almond. You don’t have a choice.”

Almond’s heart sank. His mind was spinning, the walls of his room closing in on him. The suffocating pressure of his father’s legacy, the coldness of his family’s expectations—it was too much. And in that moment, he realized just how alone he was in all of this.

“I’m scared,” he whispered, his voice breaking.

Kritt’s eyes softened. “We’re not abandoning you, Almond. We’re doing this to protect you. But you need to make a choice. You either follow the family’s orders, or you lose everything. Including Progress.”

Almond nodded slowly, his heart heavy. He wanted to tell them he didn’t care about the business, that he would choose Progress no matter the cost. But deep down, he knew it wasn’t that simple. His family would never let him go so easily.

“I’ll think about it,” Almond finally said, his voice barely audible.

His friends exchanged glances, knowing that Almond’s decision was not an easy one. They had seen him struggle, and they had watched as he slowly distanced himself from the world he was born into. But they also knew that the longer he waited, the harder it would be to break free.

“Do what you must,” Mawin said, his tone soft. “But remember, we’re all in this together. No matter what you decide.”

As they left the room, Almond sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the empty space in front of him. The weight of the decision was crushing, but he knew that whatever he chose, it would change everything.

And as he thought of Progress, his heart ached. He wanted to be with him. He wanted to love him without fear, without the shadow of his family’s expectations looming over them.

But the path ahead was unclear, and Almond wasn’t sure if he could have both—the love of his life and the life he was born into.