Chapter 168: Chapter 168: New Beginning of Their Relationship

Andrew’s expression sagged as he exhaled a long breath. There was defeat in the way his shoulders dropped, a quiet acceptance settling into him even though the words clearly hurt.

Seamus clasped his hands together and leaned forward. "But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you."

Andrew’s gaze lifted with a small, fragile hope. "Really?"

Seamus nodded. "I kind of hated admitting it. I should have hated you completely, and I do, in a way, but I still care. And I am scared you will die and I will regret everything."

He rubbed his forehead, voice dropping. "It feels like the whole thing is eating me alive."

Silence settled between them with a weight that pushed the air down. Each drifted into their own thoughts, replaying mistakes, missed chances, and all the things they should have said long ago.

The room felt too small, as if history itself had squeezed in with them, heavy and suffocating.

"Do you think our relationship can be fixed?"

Andrew asked. The question trembled a little, as if he almost swallowed it.

"What is there to fix? We never had that kind of relationship in the first place."

The words cut into Andrew sharply, but before he could respond, Seamus continued.

"But we can start over. You are not going to be here that long, right?" He tried to smile, but the humor came out too dark.

Andrew still laughed, and Seamus joined him, both of them laughing at something that was not really funny.

"We can be colleagues or friends. But not father and son. I don’t think we can ever claim that title again."

He wondered if he was being naive for wanting anything at all with the man who abandoned him. But it would only be for a short time, and at least he would not have regrets once Andrew was gone.

Maturity had taken the thrill out of petty revenge. The Andrew he hated had already been punished by life itself, so adding more cruelty felt empty.

And Andrew was trying. He was trying to live, trying to help, trying to acknowledge every wrong he had done. Dying was his final payment. Wishing more suffering on him felt childish now.

Andrew reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "I understand what you mean. But whatever happens, you are still my son."

He paused, then added gently, "But if it helps, you can treat me like a friend instead."

Seamus nodded as a quiet relief loosened the tightness in his chest. For the first time, he felt certain that when his father eventually left this world, he would not carry regret with him.

He started explaining everything about Andrew’s body. How X had slipped inside making him a temporary vessel so they could search for the Crest without worrying about Andrew collapsing midway.

How the power running through him would hold his body together long enough for the journey and even let him fight if needed.

Andrew listened with sharp curiosity. "Good. That means I don’t have to cough blood every time I use my power."

"Yeah. Something like that..."

Seamus went quiet. The silence stretched, awkward and heavy in a way neither of them knew how to break.

A part of him wanted to tell Andrew everything about the Vampire Hunter Association HQ, Gio, Vincent, the chaos, the blood, the vengeance.

But the words stalled in his throat. Andrew had enough to carry. Seamus refused to add another weight.

So he chose something easier. "I can’t believe Maria is this attached to you. She insults me every time she opens her mouth."

Andrew snorted while peeling an orange. Someone had left a basket of fresh fruit on the table, and he ate happily, probably because fresh anything was rare in the north.

"I don’t think she cares that much about me. She just hates you."

Seamus groaned. "Great. Even better."

"She is scared I will die. That is all. She cares a lot about people and shows it clearly the same when she hates." He looked at Seamus. "You know about her parents, right?"

Seamus nodded slowly.

"Just like you, she has a strange connection to death. She hates watching people die. She thinks it is her fault somehow." Andrew popped a slice of orange into his mouth.

"She is probably in Bianca’s office right now, asking about survivors and the bodies of the villagers."

"I see."

Seamus rubbed the back of his neck, finally seeing her anger in a different light. It was not only an attachment to Andrew. It was fear, grief, and pure hatred directed toward Seamus.

"I should apologize."

Andrew gave him a long stare. "How many times have you apologized to her?"

"...Too many maybe."

"Exactly. Apologizing will not fix it anymore. You need to act. The same way I do."

The words struck him cleanly. He swallowed hard. Andrew was right. Some mistakes were too heavy to erase with a simple apology. Maria deserved proof, not more words.

"About your message," Andrew said suddenly, "I don’t know which doctors can revive a vampire. But you can ask Ben. He works under Velstrath. He might know something."

"All right," Seamus said. "I think I should talk to him. Since I am here, I feel like I have a hundred things to do."

He stood, but Andrew lifted a hand to stop him.

"Seamus... whatever you are planning, do not be reckless. You will regret it."

"I know. You do not have to warn me." Seamus turned toward the door. "I already know what regret tastes like."

He left the room quietly, leaving Andrew alone with his thoughts and the half-eaten orange resting in his palm.

He sighed and shook his head, "Oh well, maybe I’m too worried about him."

Andrew then continued eating the orange. His body was full of energy as if the cancer was gone. His eyes then caught Matthew who was still looking at the window outside.

"You okay?"

"I... See hell."