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."

Adrian’s eyes widened, panic running through him.

"Staying here is suicide, Matteo! My father has evidence. He has connections. If you don’t leave, you’re walking straight into a cage."

Matteo let out a low laugh, completely unfazed.

"I’m not scared," he said. "If it wasn’t your father, I would’ve turned this into a war and seen who dares to arrest me. If he has connections, then let him try."

"It’s not funny!" Adrian snapped, his voice shaking. "He will put you in jail!"

Matteo didn’t flinch. He pulled Adrian closer. "Let him come," he said, "I’ve spent my whole life playing by the rules of men like him. But he made one mistake... he tried to use you as a bargaining chip."

"He’s not just a man... he’s my father," Adrian whispered. "I know him very well. He’ll destroy everything you’ve built just to prove he can. If you go to jail, I’ll be forced to marry a woman I don’t love... and you’ll be gone. How is that a win?"

Matteo reached up, his thumb brushing along Adrian’s jaw. "He thinks he’s the only one with a move to play," he said quietly. "He’s forgotten something... I have nothing left to lose but you. I’m not running away like a thief in the night. If I have to face the law, I’ll do it on my terms and I’ll burn his world down on the way out."

Adrian leaned into the touch, his tear spilling over. "I’m scared, Matteo. I’m so scared."

"I know," Matteo murmured, pressing a kiss to Adrian’s forehead. "But look at me. I’ve survived worse than a bitter old man. We’re going to fight this. No marriage contracts, no Iris, and no running."

He tilted Adrian’s chin up, his eyes locking onto his. "You’re mine, baby," Matteo whispered. "I’m sorry for making you go through this... I’m sorry for being a criminal and still falling in love with you. You could have met someone clean, someone like Mark, or even better. But instead... You got me." His eyes were red, filled with regret as he held Adrian’s gaze.

Adrian shook his head. "You’re a good person," he said. "If you weren’t, love wouldn’t have changed you like this. I believe the wrong people took the good part of you away... and meeting me brought it back."

He leaned in and kissed him softly. "No one is better than you. Not even your twin brother. So don’t ever think I regret meeting you... unless you regret meeting me."

Matteo’s expression softened immediately. "No, baby," he said gently. "I’m glad I met you." And then they kissed.

That night, Matteo stayed at Adrian’s house, but when morning came, the atmosphere was thick with a new kind of tension. Adrian insisted he had to go to the studio for work, but Matteo refused to let him out of his sight. Haunted by the fear that his father might snatch him away the moment he was left alone, Matteo forced Adrian to come back to his estate.

They arrived at the mansion.

Mark and Tony had already returned, but Mark remained locked in his room. His phone was buzzing incessantly with calls from Stella, demanding the money he had promised.

Mark, now playing a cold and calculated game, simply offered one excuse after another to keep her on the hook while he worked on his own plans.

Once inside, Adrian admitted he was hungry. Matteo led him upstairs to his private quarters and ordered the maid to bring food directly to the room. Not long after, Selena arrived with a tray, serving the meal with her usual quiet efficiency. Before she could bow and exit, Matteo stopped her.

"Is Mark back?" Matteo asked.

"Yes, sir," Selena answered.

"Alright. You can leave now." Matteo said.

After the door clicked shut, Adrian looked up from the table. "Join me? Let’s eat together."

Matteo shook his head, his mind already moving to the next move. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Adrian’s cheek. "You eat first, baby. I’ll eat later. I need to see Mark first."

With that, Matteo stepped out of the room and headed straight for his brother’s door.

Matteo knocked once, then pushed the door open and stepped into his brother’s room.

He found Mark on the phone, his voice sharp with irritation.

"I told you I’m busy! My bank is having issues, and we’re trying to sort it out," Mark snapped into the receiver. "Once it’s done, I’ll send the money. Can you just stop calling for a while? I’m working."

As soon as Mark realized Matteo had entered his room and was standing in the doorway, he hung up and slammed his phone down in a rare fit of anger.

Matteo, who knew his brother was usually the calm, soft one, immediately grew suspicious.

"Is everything okay?" Matteo asked. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Everything is fine," Mark said, turning back to his laptop.

Matteo walked closer and sat down beside him, glancing at the screen. "You’re working? On what?"

"Just some files that need signing," Mark answered shortly.

"Alright," Matteo said. "But what was that about just now?"

"Nothing serious," Mark replied. "Nothing to worry about."

Matteo didn’t buy it. "Who was that on the phone?"

Mark hesitated, dreading the lecture he knew was coming. He didn’t want Matteo to shame him, but he finally sighed and admitted, "It was Stella."

Matteo leaned back, a look of genuine surprise crossing his face. He reached over and poured himself a glass of whiskey from the bottle Mark had been drinking.

"You’re talking to Stella with that tone? What happened? What changed?"

Mark looked at his twin, his expression pained. "Promise me... if I tell you, you won’t laugh. Don’t judge me or think I’m a fool just because I was in love."

"Trust me," Matteo said, his voice unusually sincere. "You’re my brother. I’ll never judge you."

Finally, the words tumbled out. Mark explained that Matteo had been right all along. Stella had been cheating on him for two years, nearly half of their five-year relationship. He told him everything: the mystery boyfriend, the lies, and how she was using his money to plan a life with someone else.

Matteo listened, but despite his earlier promise, a smirk started to tug at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, really? Wow," he muttered.

Then, even though he was dealing with his own massive headache regarding Adrian’s father, Matteo couldn’t hold it back anymore. He burst out laughing.

"You promised you wouldn’t laugh at me, you fool!" Mark shouted, his face reddening. "Why are you laughing now?"

"I’m sorry, bro," Matteo gasped, trying to catch his breath. "I shouldn’t be laughing, seriously, but I couldn’t help it. I just can’t believe you let someone like her fool you for that long." He continued to let out that uncontrollable, inappropriate laugh that happens right after you’ve sworn to be serious.

Mark looked away. "It’s not your fault...