บท 20: Chapter 20: New Butlers

"We're back!" Mar shouted as soon as he set foot on the ground. Then, he ran towards the beach, which was barricaded by a fence which separated the airplane runway and the beautiful white sandy beach.

The six feet tall chicken wire fence didn't stop the black haired alpha from climbing up and jumping over in less than 3 seconds. His sneakers were tossed to the side as he ran into the incoming waves.

"Welcome home, young master Marnette!" A butler shouted at Mar, then he turned his attention back to Liam. "Hello, young master William Junior."

"Hi." The platinum blond alpha doesn't like people using his full first name, but whatever. He pointed at the locked fence gates. "Can you open that?"

"Sorry, I don't have the keys with me." The butler gave him a genuine smile, and Liam nodded as he smiled back.

He's never seen this butler here before, he must be new since he looks to be in his late twenties at most. A black name tag on his tuxedo says "Arkham" in a white calligraphy font, and yep, he's definitely new here.

The White Pearl City Mansion was owned by the Aster Family for generations, and Mr. Aster takes hiring butlers very seriously. Even though the platinum blond alpha has never met the new butler in his entire life, Arkham definitely memorized every guest's name and face even before the set foot into the mansion's territory. Because of "safety reasons", all thirty or so butlers and maids who run this mansion are all betas. Some maids and butlers have been working at the mansion for years. Liam sees them every year, and over the years, some of them retire. Hopefully Ms. Lin the head cook hasn't retired this year.

Then, the taller alpha hopped the fence too, but not before he took off his sneakers and socks. After he's on the other side, he picked up Mar's shoes and threw them over the fence. The sneakers landed next to the butler, who yelped a little in surprise.

"SORRY, ARKHAM! CAN YOU BRING THEM TO OUR ROOM?" Liam shouted at the butler. "THANK YOU!"

"You're welcome, young master William!" The beta butler shouted back as Liam ran towards the sea. His feet touched hot sand, and he screamed internally. He hates sand, but oh, he kept going.

Meanwhile, Rex watched them as more experienced butlers put suitcases on a trolley.

"It's been a while since you're here." A butler stood next to Rex, and the alpha's lips curved up into a smile. The bald middle aged butler smiled back at the alpha. He's in his late fifties, and he watched the alpha and his siblings grew from little kids running on the sand to adults who are still running on the sand.

"Petrov!" Rex suddenly pulled the butler into a hug, and the beta hugged the pilot back like he's a long lost son. "You're still here! My biggest fear is you retiring!"

"Don't squeeze me too much." The butler patted the alpha's back. "My old bones can't take it."

"You look the same since I was five, Petrov!" Rex's baritone voice attracted the attention of several other butlers who's moving their suitcases.

Brown eyes quickly noticed more eyes on him, and he realized that most of the people working here are new. He's been gone for six years after all, so his father must've replaced the older workers. They deserve a break after dealing with his father's bullshit for years.

Another new butler holding two pairs of sneakers and some socks walked gracefully towards Mar's room's trolley, and he gently placed the sandy shoes on the side. As soon as the shoes were on there, the other butler began pushing the trolley towards the mansion. It's the last trolley to follow the long line of the Velisons' suitcases. Meg is already running, in heels, towards the mansion.

The new butler stood there watching for a few seconds before he turned around to see Petrov and Rex.

"Welcome home..." Green eyes squinted a little as he's trying to figure out who Rex is. "Young master V—"

"I go by Rex." Rex cut him off before his first name could be uttered. "You must be new here. Welcome, Arkham. It's only gonna get worse from here."

"It's his second day here, kid." Petrov let out a chuckle. "Don't scare him away."

"I won't, I won't." The alpha lifted up his hands in defense. "Hey, Arkham? One tip... That piece of paper with names and faces that you're given? Not everyone goes by their first name."

"Thank you?" The new butler lifted up an eyebrow, but he listened anyway. "Is there anything I can do for you, young master?"

"Catch me a few crabs, maybe?" Rex joked, and Petrov laughed. Meanwhile, the new butler looked at them confused. "Just kidding. You're not paid enough to deal with our bullshits, really. But yeah, I got nothing for now."

"You're dismissed." Petrov said to the younger butler, and Arkham nodded as he sleepwalked towards the mansion. As soon as the new butler was out of hearing range, the old butler sighed. "Rex, about the crabs... The Devins won't be here until 4."

The alpha looked at his wristwatch, and it's only 1:55pm. He still has plenty of time...

"I was just joking, Petrov. I don't need crabs." Rex chuckled as he looked at the beach again.

"I remembered you digging up a few." The old butler commented. "You're a weird kid. Everyone copes differently, I guess."

Deep brown eyes looked at the two younger alpha in the distance. Liam was waist deep in water, his pale complexion and platinum blond hair made it hard to spot him in the bubbling waves, and it doesn't help that he's dressed in white. A blur of black and white jumped from the waves and tackled the future doctor into the water, both of them laughing wildly.

Everyone copes differently.

"They grow up so fast." Petrov commented.

"We should tell Mar the truth." Rex suddenly brought up the topic.

"What?" The old butler turned to look at the alpha.

"The truth about Marbella." The pilot didn't look at the butler, instead his eyes were focused on the two young alphas. "Mar needs to know."

"He doesn't need to know." Petrov corrected him. "You want him to know."

A dry laugh escaped Rex's lips. "You're right. I want him to know."

"Not everyone is a masochist like you, kid." The old butler patted the alpha's shoulder. "Your little brother is happy now. Look at him and the doctor's son. You don't want to ruin that, do you?"

"Will you stop me if I tell him?" Brown eyes closed and took a deep breath.

"I won't." The butler sighed after he turned around, ready to leave the beach. "But be careful."

"Thanks." Rex watched the sea, and the two twenty years old who were playing in the waves.