Staring at the exquisitely delicate child in front of him, Homelander gave Soldier Boy a bewildered look.
He could stay at all costs and fulfill Ryan's wish. But in return, Vought would face more trouble, and its approval ratings would drop.
Yet Vought was the source of income for their entire family, and it could also give them better social standing.
At the very least, if Ryan became fully exposed to the public eye in the future, Vought could pave the way for him and maximize his influence, ensuring that flowers and applause greeted him wherever he went.
Responsibility...
Homelander murmured inwardly, and the knot that had troubled him for so long suddenly unraveled.
In the past, Soldier Boy had stopped his atrocities countless times. To avoid disappointing his father, he had always suppressed his nature. In truth, he had felt deeply stifled, accumulating a great deal of resentment.
Why did this old bastard always stop me from doing whatever I wanted?
Now, he understood.
A truly worthy father always knew to step forward when it was time to shoulder responsibility.
Soldier Boy had always done just that, working to steer Vought in a better direction. Whether it was the plane incident or the land rights dispute, he had stood in front of him and taught him restraint countless times.
Though foul-mouthed and crude, he never shirked when it was time to shoulder responsibility.
Soldier Boy had no idea what Homelander was thinking. Seeing him dawdle and refuse to leave, he flicked the ash off his cigar in boredom.
With such astonishing finger strength, no matter how finely he controlled it, there were always moments of carelessness.
Perhaps Homelander was simply unlucky enough to catch one of those moments. The solid, intact length of ash at the tip of the