Tony rolled his eyes hard. "Spare me. There is no way in hell I will ever like him."

"Alright, alright," Mark said, standing up and stretching. "Let me get dressed so we can head back."

Meanwhile, the previous day had marked a turning point for Matteo. After dropping Adrian off, he turned his full attention to the business his brother had been trying to take from him.

Matteo moved quickly and decisively, reclaiming a major contract and securing it entirely for himself. He made it clear to the investors that, despite sharing a last name, he and his brother operated very differently.

By the time everything was finalized, the contract was assigned solely to Matteo, leaving his brother with nothing.

As night fell and the work was done, Matteo wanted nothing more than to see Adrian.

But when he called, Adrian said he wasn’t home. He claimed his sister needed urgent help and that he would call Matteo once he got back.

Something about it felt off.

"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Matteo asked. "Why wait for me to call you first?"

Adrian apologized quickly, saying he had been too busy to reach out.

The truth was, Adrian had rushed home to confront his father about the invitation sent to Matteo.

His father was cold, reminding him that he had been calling for days with no answer, yet the moment Matteo was involved, Adrian came running.

Then he made it clear.

Whatever was going on between Adrian and Matteo... it had to end. Immediately.

Adrian stood his ground, his voice rising as he refused to back down. No one had the right to choose his life for him, and Matteo was the only person he wanted to be with.

His father’s expression darkened. He reminded Adrian that Matteo had a long history of crimes, things that had gone unpunished only because of his father’s power and connections.

"If you continue to be stubborn," his father warned, "I will make his life a living hell. I will reopen every past case and ensure he is sent exactly where he belongs."

When Adrian tried to storm out, his father dropped a final, devastating blow: "In case you don’t know the truth, Matteo is the reason your wife passed away."

Adrian froze.

His father studied his face. Seeing that Adrian wasn’t surprised or reacting, he realized he might already know, so he asked,

"You already knew," he said quietly.

Adrian said nothing.

"Don’t tell me you knew the truth... and you still chose to be with him."

Silence.

Then his father’s expression hardened.

"You’re selfish," he spat. "That man destroyed your family, and you still want to be with him?"

Adrian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak.

"You only care about yourself," his father said coldly. "That’s why you’re still alive... while everyone else paid the price for you."

"I didn’t plan for any of this to happen... and neither did Matteo," Adrian cried out, trembling. "It was a mistake. No one meant for it to end this way."

"Intentional or not," his father countered, "imagine how your late wife’s family will react when they find out. Half of them are high-ranking lawyers. If I start this war, Matteo will rot in jail."

The weight of the threat crushed Adrian. He collapsed onto the sofa, his head in his hands, and whispered, "What exactly do you want?"

"It’s very simple," his father replied. "End everything with Matteo and sign a marriage contract with Iris. Do that, and I’ll let him be. Choose him, and I will destroy him."

"I don’t love her!" Adrian burst out. "Why are you forcing me to be with her? Why?"

"I love Matteo, not Iris," Adrian said, his voice shaking. "Iris kidnapped me just to make me hate him, but she failed. Why are all of you trying to destroy us?"

His father’s expression didn’t change. "What Iris did isn’t wrong," he said calmly. "She’s only trying to protect what belongs to her."

Adrian’s head snapped up. "You knew about it?" he shouted.

"Yes," his father replied. "I know. She’s only trying to take back her fiancé."

"I don’t belong to her!" Adrian shouted. "I don’t want her! Don’t you understand?"

His father’s voice turned cold. "What you want doesn’t matter. What I want... is all that matters."

Adrian sat slumped on the sofa, the silence around him heavy. The ultimatum replayed in his mind, cold and final. His father stood over him, waiting for him to surrender.

"You have until tomorrow morning to give me your answer," his father stated, his voice devoid of any warmth. "But remember, Adrian, every second you spend deciding is a second closer to me making that first phone call to the authorities."

Without another word, his father walked out, leaving Adrian alone in the living room.

Adrian let out a raw, broken scream, demanding to know what he had done so wrong for them to trap him like this, why they couldn’t just leave him alone to live his own life.

He sat there in the silence, his mind racing, before finally pushing himself to his feet and walking out of the house.

By the time Adrian got home, it was 11:24 p.m.

As the car pulled up to the gate, the driver leaned back slightly.

"Sir... that looks like Mr. Matteo’s car outside," he said.

Adrian straightened immediately. He quickly wiped his face, clearing any trace of tears before stepping out.

The moment his feet touched the pavement, Matteo stepped out of his car and rushed toward him, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Have you been waiting for me?" Adrian asked, his voice muffled against Matteo’s chest.

Matteo nodded. "Yes."

"Why didn’t you just go home?" Adrian asked. "Why wait out here in the cold?"

Matteo pulled back slightly, his eyes searching Adrian’s with quiet intensity. "What did your father say to you?"

Adrian froze, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "What are you talking about? I told you, I went to my sister’s place, not my father’s."

"The card your father gave me is missing," Matteo said. "You’re the only one who could’ve taken it. So tell me... what did he say?"

Adrian held his gaze for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh. "Let’s go inside first."

They walked into the house in silence, not stopping until they reached Adrian’s bedroom.

The moment the door clicked shut, Matteo turned to him, tension written all over his face.

"Talk to me," he said. "What did he say?"

"Relax," Adrian tried to deflect, gesturing toward the bathroom. "Go take a shower first."

"Look at me," Matteo snapped, his patience slipping. "Do I look like that’s what I need right now? What the hell did he tell you?"

Adrian stared at him, the weight of the secret pressing down on him.

Sensing it, Matteo stepped closer, his hands settling on Adrian’s waist as he rested his forehead against his.

"Please, baby," he whispered. "Tell me."

Finally, Adrian broke the silence. "He said..." He trailed off, looking into Matteo’s dark eyes. "If the only way to be with me was to face the law for everything you’ve done... would you still choose me?"

Matteo didn’t hesitate. "Yes. If that’s what it takes."

Adrian walked away from him, heading toward the window to stare out at the dark street. "It’s easy to say that, but it’s not as simple as it sounds."

"I will do it for you," Matteo insisted.

Adrian spun around, panic rising in his voice.

"And what happens to me after that? Did you even think about me before you answered?"

His voice cracked. "I can’t do this without you, Matteo! My only choices are to marry Iris or watch you go to prison. I don’t want either of those—"

He stepped closer, his eyes desperate.

"All I want is you."

He rushed back to Matteo, grabbing his shirt with trembling hands. "What if we run away? Somewhere far away where they can’t find us?"

Matteo took Adrian’s hands in his, his expression hardening with quiet resolve. "We’re not running. We’re staying right here."