Chapter 1
The car rolled up the long driveway, the mansion looming larger the closer they got. Rian sat stiffly beside Adrian, his fingers curled around the strap of his bag.
"You'll be fine," Adrian said with an easy grin, though he kept drumming his fingers against his thigh like he was nervous himself.
Rian gave a short laugh. "That's easy for you to say. It's your family."
Adrian shrugged. "Yeah, but they can be… a lot." He glanced at him, lowering his voice. "Not everyone's thrilled about me bringing home a boyfriend. Just so you know. Some will smile to your face, but…" He let the sentence trail off with a shrug.
Rian nodded, appreciating the warning. His stomach already twisted enough—he didn't need the reminder that half the room might be judging him before dessert was served.
The car came to a stop. The driver opened the door, and cold air swept in. Adrian was out first, offering his hand like he was coaxing him into unknown territory. Rian took it.
Inside, the entryway was as grand as he expected: chandeliers, polished floors, the kind of paintings you saw in magazines. Adrian walked him through introductions—his father, Lois Gates, tall and stern in his tailored suit, and beside him, a stepmother who looked far younger than him, Mariah Gates,somewhere in her late thirties. From what Adrian had said before, she didn't have children with Lois.
"She's… fine," Adrian had once mumbled in passing. And now, watching the polite smile on his boyfriend's face, Rian could tell that was true—Adrian didn't dislike her, but he didn't exactly love her either.
Then came the uncles and aunts. Some offered polite nods, others gave him quick once-overs that carried more judgment than welcome. He caught the way one aunt's smile faltered when Adrian introduced him as his partner. Another uncle avoided looking at them altogether.
Rian stayed close, his hand brushing Adrian's arm now and then like an anchor.
As they headed toward the dining room, Rian finally whispered, "So this older brother you mentioned once… is he here tonight?"
Adrian's eyes flicked to him, a shadow of hesitation crossing his face before he answered casually, "Maybe. You'll see." And then he started talking about something else.
Rian didn't press.
They stepped into the dining hall, long table set for more people than Rian could count at a glance. The clinking of silverware and low hum of conversation filled the air as they took their seats.
And then—
"Ah, brother, you're here!" Adrian called out, brightening.
"Yeah, I'm sorry for being late," came the reply.
The sound hit Rian like a blow. He didn't need to lift his head. He knew that voice. Even after all these years.
---
Rian felt the weight of Alex's stare burning into his back, but he didn't look up. Adrian noticed the shift in his demeanor and leaned closer.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
Rian only shook his head. Before Adrian could press further, Lois Gates raised his glass.
"For family and love," he toasted.
The family echoed the cheer, glasses clinking in the air. But Rian could barely breathe. His chest tightened, his palms were damp, and sweat gathered at his temples.
Adrian, still holding his hand under the table, felt the heat radiating from his skin. "Are you okay?" he whispered again.
"No… I'm not feeling too good," Rian murmured.
Adrian nodded and rose, slipping an arm around him. "You'll have to excuse us," he said, guiding Rian up.
"Is everything alright?" Mariah asked, concern laced with suspicion.
"He's not well," Adrian explained.
"It's rude to leave when the elders are still present," one of the aunts snapped—Alicia Drew, Lois Gates' half-sister, if Rian remembered correctly.
"He is sick," Adrian shot back, his voice sharp. "And I don't give a damn about your so-called elders." With that, he led Rian out.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" Alicia shrieked after them. "Lois, look at your son, disrespecting me!"
By then, Rian and Adrian were gone from sight.
"That is because you crossed the line, dear Aunt Alicia," Alex said in a chilling tone.
The table went silent. Lois Gates smirked, while the old man turned to his first son.
"That's enough. This is a family gathering," Mariah Gates, finally interjected.
Alex stood up, " you'll have to excuse me as well," He left the dinning with that.
---
Adrian leaned closer, voice low against the music. "Let get you upstairs."
Rian stiffened. The night had already felt heavy—he needed to be far away from the house. He shook his head. "I just… I want to go home, Adrian."
For a moment, disappointment flashed across Adrian's face. Then he exhaled, offering a small nod. "Alright. Let's go."
Outside, the air was cooler, quieter. Adrian opened the car door for him, and Rian slipped inside without another word.
From the balcony, Alex watched the car roll down the driveway, his eyes following until the taillights blurred into the distance. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a cigarette.
One of his man flicked his lighter without hesitation, the flame briefly illuminating Alex's sharp features. Alex leaned in, lit up, and drew in a slow breath.
Smoke curled upward as he exhaled, his gaze still locked on the road where the car had vanished.