Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1076

Chapter 1076 Absolute Control

"Stop this. Or I'll tell Mom."

Avalon's expression hardened. If he had to be honest, that was the last thing he expected Atticus to say.

And somehow... it was the best weakness Atticus could have exploited. "...Atticus."

Avalon gave him a small smile, but to Atticus, it wasn't a smile at all.

His father's emotions came crashing onto him, and the most overwhelming of them was shame.

That smile held only one thing: sadness.

Avalon looked at him, his eyes pleading.

"Please... just drop it." _{freewēbnoveℓ.com}

But Atticus shook his head. "No. It's not right. If it were up to me, I might've let you be. But it's not. Mom's already worried. If she finds out what you're doing... it'll break her heart."

Avalon's fist clenched tighter. "Which is why you shouldn't tell her."

"I'm not doing that to her," Atticus replied instantly. "I won't."

Avalon's voice dropped, turning bitter. "Why are you making it sound like you don't keep secrets? We all know you do. Why can't you just keep mine?"

Atticus fell silent.

Avalon had a point. He did have secrets, dangerous ones. The kind that put his life on the line daily.

And he had no idea how his mother would react if she ever found out.

He exhaled slowly.

'I'm a hypocrite!

But he didn't care. He would accept it with his full chest.

If Avalon wanted to keep torturing himself, he should've done a better job hiding it.

There was no way Atticus would sleep well at night knowing his father was doing something like this.

"When you find out the secrets I'm supposedly keeping to myself," Atticus said, "you're free to tell her."

Avalon sighed, his shoulders sagging. He shut his eyes for a long moment, then turned away from his son.

"...Atticus," he murmured. "You're right. I feel... useless."

His voice was quiet. Tired. Like it had been buried under years of pressure.

"So many things are happening all at once. And soon, our family will be in more danger than ever before."

He paused, the heat around him rising like a wave.

"Your mother... your grandfather... your cousins Ariel left behind... And I know, deep down, that I can't protect a single one of them."

Avalon clenched his fists so tightly Atticus heard the sharp crack of his knuckles.

The heat around him rose again, his sadness clear.

"I know I haven't done much for you as a father," Avalon continued, his voice shaking now, "but if you still see me in that light...."

"Please. I'm begging you, Atticus. Drop this. I've already lost Ariel once. I won't lose another."

A single streak of tear fell down Atticus's face.

It was... shocking. For a being of his strength, crying was something he thought he'd never do again.

Especially not over words.

But he didn't care to understand it.

Another tear slipped down, and he didn't bother to wipe it away.

He stood there, silently watching the broad back of his father.

Avalon had turned away. But it was not in anger, nor in shame. But for one reason only:

To hide the tears that streamed down his face.

And Atticus could feel it. Every single emotion Avalon was drowning in.

Shame.

Fear.

Doubt.

Overwhelming, burning anger,