Kai sat in the car, watching the trees pass by as Rico drove calmly.
"Where are you taking me?" Kai asked, a bit of tension in his voice.
Rico smirked. "It's a surprise. I'm sure you'll like it."
Kai frowned. "Let me go. I said let me go!"
Rico didn't flinch. "How stubborn you are, little kid."
Kai snapped back, "If Bast finds out you took me somewhere by force, he'll sue you. You clearly didn't think this through—you'll be in danger."
Rico chuckled darkly. "Your daddy is so weird. He dated me while he was married... and had a cute kid like you."
Kai's eyes widened, completely stunned. "W-What do you mean... while he was married?"
Rico didn't reply immediately. He simply stopped the car in front of a beautiful farmhouse, surrounded by trees and golden sunlight. He turned off the engine and opened the door.
"If you want to know more, come inside, Kai."
Still in shock, Kai silently stepped out of the car and followed Rico's steps. They entered the quiet house, the door shutting behind them like the closing of a secret.
---
Meanwhile...
Bast called Rico again and again, but no one answered. His grip tightened on the phone.
"Where the hell are they...?" he muttered under his breath.
He turned to his security team. "Search the whole city. I want Rico and Kai found now."
The team nodded and spread out to search.
Ethan stepped closer. "Don't worry. I've already sent some boys to Rico's house. Maybe they'll find them there."
Bast didn't respond. He just stood there, eyes fixed on the window, his reflection full of worry.
Where are you, Kai... I promised I'd protect you... no matter what.
Rico sat on the couch and gestured for Kai to join him.
"Come, sit here," he said.
Kai hesitated, then sat down a little distance away. "What do you want to talk to me about?"
Instead of answering, Rico reached out and gently grabbed Kai's wrist. "First, let's eat something. I'm hungry and tired—I drove a long way."
Kai frowned. "I'm not hungry."
Rico reached to pat Kai's head, but Kai immediately pulled back.
"What are you doing?" he asked sharply.
Rico smiled softly. "Just thinking… your hair is so soft."
He leaned a little closer. "Kai Haruto… tell me, what's your relationship with Bast?"
Kai's eyes widened. "Why are you asking? And why should I tell you?"
Rico didn't back off. He leaned even closer and said, "I'm just curious. He always protects you—not like a father… but like a lover."
Kai stood up in frustration. "You really want to waste my time with this? I want to go back. Bast must be worried."
But Rico's next words froze him in place.
"I know you and Bast are dating each other… secretly."
Kai's breath caught in his throat.
Rico stood up slowly and looked him in the eye. "Do you know why Bast and I broke up?"
Kai clenched his fists. "Because you cheated on him."
Rico let out a bitter laugh. "Yes, I cheated. But do you know why? Because he dated me while he was married. He cheated on your mother. And now look—he sleeps with you. Because that's what he does. He uses people."
Kai stood frozen, as Rico's voice grew colder.
"We were in a relationship, Kai. But I didn't know he was married. He lied to me. Cheated your mother. He didn't care about my feelings—he only wanted my body."
Rico stepped closer, his voice almost a whisper. "Kai… Bast is a cheater. He doesn't love you. He's just using you."
Tears welled up in Kai's eyes. His voice trembled. "B-Bast… he's not like that. You're lying…"
He broke down and started to cry.
Rico gently wrapped his arms around him. "Kai, I'm with you. I just want to protect you from Bast. I don't want what happened to me to happen to you. Believe me."
Kai's mind was spinning. Everything was a blur—Bast's smile, his warmth… the safety he felt with him. But now, Rico's words planted doubt like poison in his heart.
"Why… would he do that?" Kai whispered, trembling.
Rico softly tapped his back. "Don't worry… now you're with me."
Bast stood tense in his office, phone to his ear. "I put a tracker in Kai's phone. What's the location?"
One of his men responded quickly, "Sir, we found Mr. Kai's location."
"Send it to me. Now."
Without wasting another second, Bast jumped into his car and sped off. The GPS guided him far from the city, leading to a quiet, secluded farmhouse. As he approached, he saw security guards stepping aside.
He slammed the brakes and stormed to the front door, ringing the bell furiously. The door swung open—and there stood Rico.
Without a word, Bast grabbed him by the collar, eyes burning with fury. "Where is Kai?!"
Rico smirked. "Hey, calm down. He's inside. Let me go first—"
Bast shoved him aside and rushed into the house.
Kai was sitting at the dining table, quietly eating lunch. The moment he saw Bast, the older man ran to him and wrapped him in a desperate hug.
"Kai! Are you okay?"
Kai stiffened, then pushed Bast away.
"I'm fine," he said coldly.
Rico stepped into the room behind them. "You ruined my date. Again."
Bast spun around and punched him square in the jaw. Rico stumbled back.
"Stop it!" Kai shouted.
He rushed to Rico's side, gently holding his face. "Are you okay?"
Rico winced but smiled. "Yeah. Your father is crazy."
Bast's face went pale.
"Kai… what are you doing?" he asked, voice barely audible.
Kai stood up, eyes full of defiance.
"Don't hurt my boyfriend again."
Bast stood frozen, disbelief written all over his face.
Rico smirked and stepped closer, grabbing Kai's hand and lifting it. A silver ring sparkled on Kai's finger.
"Look at this," Rico said smugly, "I didn't kidnap him. He's my lover. We were on a date—and you ruined it, Mr. Sebastian."
Bast's expression twisted with rage. Without a word, he seized Kai by the wrist.
"We're leaving."
"Wait—Bast!" Kai protested.
But Bast had already dragged him out the door. He yanked the passenger door open, shoved Kai inside, then slammed it shut. Rico followed them out onto the porch, calling after them with a taunting voice.
"We'll meet tomorrow, honey! I'll call you later!"
Bast didn't look back. He climbed into the driver's seat and hit the gas, the tires screeching as the car sped off down the gravel road.
Kai sat in silence, his expression cold, eyes distant. Bast gripped the wheel tightly, his jaw clenched, his mind spinning in circles.
His heart was racing.
What the hell just happened?
Bast and Kai arrived at the house. The moment they stepped inside, Kai stormed off toward his room.
Bast followed quickly, grabbing Kai's wrist before he could disappear.
"What are you doing, Kai? What happened?" Bast asked, voice tense.
Kai yanked his hand away. "Nothing happened. I just went on a date—and you ruined it."
Bast stepped closer, his voice cracking with disbelief. "A date? Hun, what the hell do you mean by a date?"
Kai looked him straight in the eyes. "I love Rico. He's my boyfriend. If you're not happy with our relationship, I'll leave you and your house. Understand, Mr. Sebastian Vaughn?"
Bast's eyes filled with tears, the words cutting deeper than any wound.
Kai pushed past him, entered his room, and slammed the door shut.
Bast stood frozen in the hallway, heart aching. Tears streamed silently down his cheeks. With trembling legs, he sat down on the floor, hopeless and broken.
On the other side of the door, Kai slid down to the floor as well. He clutched his chest and cried hard, burying his face into his knees.
"I love you, Bast… so much…" he whispered through trembling lips.
"Why did you do that? Why did you hurt me like this?"
Rico sat alone on the couch, swirling his glass of wine. His eyes lingered on the silver ring wrapped around his finger—the couple ring he now shared with Kai. A small smile tugged at his lips as he remembered what they had agreed to.
Several hours earlier…
Kai sat on the edge of the couch, his eyes red from crying. His mind was a blur of confusion and heartbreak.
Rico knelt beside him and gently said, "I have a plan."
Kai looked up at him, eyes still glassy with tears.
"If you agree to be my fake boyfriend… Bast will finally feel the pain he gave me—and the pain he gave your mother," Rico said calmly, his tone filled with cold determination.
Kai looked down. His chest ached. His heart was still hurting—confused, torn between love and betrayal.
After a long silence, Kai whispered, "Okay. I'm ready."
Rico smiled faintly, clearly pleased. He gently took Kai's hand. "I'm happy you found the truth and trusted me enough to listen."
Standing up, Rico disappeared into his bedroom. When he returned, he held a small velvet box. He opened it slowly—revealing two matching couple rings.
He picked one out and offered it to Kai.
"Wear it," he said softly.
Kai wiped the tears from his cheeks and slowly slid the ring onto his finger. Rico did the same, then grabbed Kai's hand and took a picture of them together.
Kai looked away, unable to hold the moment for long. Deep inside, he felt a void—a longing.
I miss you, Mom... he thought, his heart aching.
I want to talk to Miles… my best friend.
At the House
Ethan and Miles arrived at Bast's house. The moment they stepped inside, Ethan caught sight of Bast sitting on the couch, a bottle of whiskey in his hand, looking completely drained.
"What are you doing, Bast?" Ethan asked, concerned.
Miles glanced around. "Where's Kai?"
Without waiting for an answer, Miles rushed toward Kai's room and knocked on the door. "Kai? What's going on?"
Kai slowly opened the door. The moment Miles saw him, he pulled him into a tight hug. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"I'm fine, there's no need to worry," Kai replied, but his swollen, red eyes told a different story.
Miles looked at him, brows furrowed. "What happened? Why is Bast out there drinking like that?"
Kai let out a shaky breath. "I went on a date with Rico." He held out his hand, showing Miles the silver couple ring on his finger.
Ethan and Miles both stared at it in shock. Bast stayed quiet in the background, unmoving, his gaze hollow.
Kai continued, "I love Rico. We met at the club that night when Elina drugged me—he saved me. And slowly, we started liking each other… and now, he's my boyfriend."
Miles took a step back, disbelief written all over his face. "Kai… what are you saying? You love Bast. Don't you?"
Kai's voice turned cold. "Sleeping with my stepdad was a mistake. Just a mistake. Not love. Understand?"
Miles stood frozen, completely stunned. That wasn't the Kai he knew.
Ethan, watching from behind, narrowed his eyes. Something's off... This isn't like Kai at all. Rico must have done something to him.
He clenched his fists. I need to find out the truth—before it's too late.