On the second floor of the Hale manor, Adrian pushed open the double doors into the grand study.
There sitting beside a fireplace in a leather armchair was the patriarch of the Hale family, Grandfather Arthur Hale.
"Grandpa," Adrian said respectfully, unlike his rude tone in front of his father. "I am here."
The old man drifted his wrinkled eyes at him. His piercing gaze moved past Adrian's shoulders, landing directly on the small timid figure hiding nervously in the shadow of the doorway.
"I brought my husband to meet you," Adrian stated, stepping aside to bring the younger boy into view. "This is Leo."
Arthur's weathered face didn't betray a single shred of surprise. He merely leaned back in his chair, resting his hands on his cane, and studied the meek boy.
"Come here, child." He called out to Leo.
Leo's heart slammed violently against his ribs as panic flared through his veins. He stood frozen on the Persian rug, his knees trembling so hard he felt on the verge of collapsing. He desperately wanted to be respectful, he didn't want to displease this intimidating old man, nor did he want to embarrass Adrian but his limbs simply refused to move.
Adrian felt the spike of fear radiating off the smaller body beside him. With intentional slowness, Adrian lifted his hand and rested it squarely against the small of Leo's back.
"Go on," Adrian let out, his tone gentle compared to usual self. "It's alright."
Instinctively trusting the hand on his back, Leo took an agonizingly cautious step forward. He stopped two feet from the old man's chair, bowing his head so low his dark bangs hid his face completely, his hands tightly clasped together in front of his chest.
Arthur's sharp eyes scanned the boy from head to toe, taking in the frail frame, the trembling fingers, and the terrified skittish posture.
"Tell me the truth, child," Arthur asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked past Leo to his grandson. "Did you actually agree to this marriage or did my grandson threaten you into it?"
Adrian rolled his eyes, a faint huff of air escaping his nose.
Leo's eyes went wide with panic. He opened his mouth, wanting to shake his head, wanting to explain, but no sound came out. His vocal cords remained locked while his throat was tight with frustration.
"He cannot speak, Grandpa," Adrian interjected calmly, stepping up beside Leo.
Arthur's brows furrowed for a fraction of a second, a fleeting shadow passing over his ancient features before a slow smile touched his lips. He lifted a hand, signaling his head manservant.
"Take the boy downstairs," Arthur instructed smoothly. "Adrian and I will have a match of chess before dinner is served."
Adrian's jaw tightened subtly. He didn't like the idea of sending Leo back down into the pit of vipers waiting down, but he knew his grandfather well. If Arthur was clearing the room, it meant the real conversation was about to begin.
Turning to Leo, Adrian rested both hands on his little husband's shoulders. He leaned down slightly, catching Leo's frightened wide eyes.
"Go downstairs with the butler," Adrian instructed softly, his thumb lightly brushing against the fabric of Leo's jacket. "Find my brother, Julian. Stay right beside him until I come down. Do you understand?"
Leo looked into Adrian's eyes, the suffocating fear in his chest easing just enough for him to function. He gave a nod.
Arthur watched the interaction and a faint smirk touched his lips.
Leo turned and followed the servant out of the study. Adrian remained standing in the exact same spot, his eyes locked onto the doorway, watching until the small silhouette completely disappeared down the dark corridor. Only when the doors clicked shut did Adrian turn around, pulling out the chair opposite his grandfather.
He sat down, adjusting his cuffs, and looked at the wooden pieces on the board.
"Your move, Grandfather," Adrian reached out to slide a white pawn forward.
"So," Arthur began, his tone deceptively casual as he advanced a black knight. "Did you really not force the boy?"
"Why would you assume I forced him?" Adrian asked, his eyes entirely fixed on the grid between them.
"Because you are entirely capable of it," Arthur replied as his sharp gaze rose to meet his grandson's.
Adrian let out a chuckle, his fingers resting casually on his queen. "I didn't force him. Leo agreed to this arrangement of his own free will."
"And this arrangement..." Arthur paused, sliding a bishop across the board with a dull scrape. "it isn't out of love, I presume?"
"No," Adrian stated bluntly. "It is a transaction."
Arthur nodded slowly, expecting nothing less. He knew Adrian better than anyone in this wretched family. Adrian was not a fool to be blinded by sudden infatuation, nor was he someone who could be trapped into a corner. He was a master tactician who always found a way to turn every situation into absolute leverage.
"How long will this farce of a marriage continue?"
"As long as I need it to," Adrian replied coldly, moving his rook into an aggressive position. "Until my goals are fully realized."
"And what goals are those?"
Adrian remained silent and didn't answer.
The old man slowly lifted his head, the atmosphere in the room suddenly turning into something dense.
"What happened to Julian and his husband was a tragedy," Arthur sighed in disappointment. "That young boy, Thomas, didn't deserve the fate this family gave him."
Adrian's entire posture locked up. The sarcastic edge vanished instantly and was replaced by a deadly seriousness. His eyes darkened into black abysses, a terrifying aura bleeding out from him. He hated this topic. He loathed the very mention of it.
"Julian was a coward," Adrian spat out in venom. "He was a weak, spineless puppet who allowed Father to dictate his life. He failed to protect Thomas because he didn't have the power to back up his choices. He let them tear his husband apart."
Adrian leaned forward over the chessboard, his dark eyes locking onto his grandfather with chilling intensity.
"I am not Julian," Adrian whispered, every word heavily laced with lethal promise. "I know exactly how to protect what is mine. No one in this family, not Father, not the aunts, not a single soul will ever lay a finger on Leo. As long as he is under my name, he is entirely untouchable."
Arthur studied the fierce fire roaring in his grandson's eyes. The dark arrogance, the possessiveness, it was staggering. But the old man merely shook his head, a sigh escaping his chest.
"You think power is a shield against everything, Adrian? You think control can prevent tragedy? But you forget that human emotions are fragile unpredictable things."
Arthur moved his piece, making a sharp capture on the board.
"You can only protect someone if that person wants to be protected by your terms," Arthur continued, his milky eyes staring straight into Adrian's soul. "You cannot force your shelter on a human heart like a cage. You say he is your responsibility but can you handle that responsibility without getting attached?"
"I am already handling it," Adrian snapped flatly. "Leo wanted protection from his abusive family. I offered him an absolute shield in exchange for this corporate alliance. He gets safety and I get my objective. It is a simple, logical contract. What happened to Julian will never happen to us."
Arthur looked at the young man sitting across from him. He remembered the instinctive way Adrian had rested his hand on the boy's back moments ago. He remembered the outstanding softness in Adrian's eyes when he looked at the timid child, and the territorial threat that flared up the moment Leo was mentioned.
Foolish boy, Arthur thought quietly to himself. You are already attached, and you don't even realize it.
"And what if the boy gets attached?" Arthur asked, pushing the final trap forward. "What if he looks at you and begins to want more than just a transactional shield? What if he wants your heart?"
Adrian frowned, a hint of something complex and dark flashed in his eyes before he locked it away. "Leo knows his place. He only wants safety. And if he ever forgets...if he ever asks for more than what was agreed upon, I will personally remind him of the true purpose of this marriage."
Adrian moved his queen across the board, slamming it down with a sharp crack. "Checkmate."
Arthur's king had nowhere to run.
Adrian stood up, buttoning his suit jacket he looked down at his grandfather with a cool expression. "I will be waiting downstairs for dinner. Do not keep us waiting long, Grandfather."
Without waiting for a reply, Adrian turned on his heel and strode toward the door.
Arthur sat alone and stared down at the defeated king on the chessboard. The old man let out a long sigh, a sad smile touching his lips.
"You speak so coldly, my foolish boy," Arthur whispered softly to the empty room. "Yet you have no idea that the ice around your heart has already begun to melt."
As soon as Adrian reached down, his eyes quickly began to find his little husband, whom he found tucked beside Julian.
The younger boy looked smaller than ever, his spine locked straight, his small hands clasped so tightly in his lap that his knuckles were stark white. LSurrounding them, the rest of the Hale family sat like birds of prey, their sharp, judgment-filled eyes pinned onto Leo's delicate frame.
Adrian's jaw tightened. Without a word, he strode across the hall and pulled out the chair directly to Leo's left and sat down. The moment Adrian's shadow fell over him, Leo let out a soft, almost imperceptible breath of relief. His trembling eased just a fraction, knowing the terrifying wall of cold protection had returned to his side.
The mood at the dining table was utterly dead. Yet, under the oppressive weight of Adrian's presence, no one dared to open their mouth.
Moments later, Grandfather Arthur entered, his servant guided him to the head of the table. The ancient man scanned the frozen faces of his family before speaking.
"Tonight, we gather to welcome a new member into the Hale family. Leo is now Adrian's husband, and he will be treated with the respect his title demands."
Sitting across the table, Raymond Hale's jaw flexed violently. He slammed his hand against his thigh under the table, his fist clenching until his knuckles popped.
Useless, every single person in this family is useless. No one has the spine to put that arrogant boy in his place.
Arthur gestured toward the feast. "Let the dinner begin."
Before the servants could even pour the wine, Raymond abruptly pushed his chair back. "I have lost my appetite."
Without offering his father a second glance, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the dining room.
Elara instantly fluttered up from her seat, worriedly hurrying after her husband. "Oh dear, I will go and see what is wrong with him."
Arthur didn't care, he was far too accustomed to his son's bitter tantrums. He picked up his linen napkin, resting it on his lap. "Please eat everyone."
The family quietly began to dish their food. Julian, sitting quietly beside them, watched his younger brother out of the corner of his eye. What he saw made him freeze mid-reach for his wine glass.
Adrian, the man who usually demanded to be served first, the cold CEO who treated meals as mere biological necessity didn't touch his own plate. Instead, he reached out, taking a portion of steamed fish and placing them onto Leo's plate.
Adrian leaned down, his lips brushing against the shell of Leo's ear. "You don't have to look at them. Just focus on your food."
Leo blinked, his cheeks flushing a pretty pink. He looked up at Adrian, offering a tiny nod. Nervously picking up his fork, Leo took a hesitant bite, his front teeth working quickly as he chewed with caution.
Watching the intimate dynamic between the two, a sudden pang sliced directly through Julian's chest. A wave of bittersweet nostalgia washed over him, bringing a ghost of a memory from years ago, a memory of another quiet boy who used to sit beside him, waiting for Julian to cut his food into perfect pieces. Julian squeezed his eyes shut for a brief second, his heart aching with an unbearable grief. He missed Thomas. He missed his husband so deeply it felt like a physical hemorrhage.
Once the dinner was done, Adrian reached grandpa with Leo. "Grandfather, we are taking our leave now."
Arthur looked up from his tea as he looked at his favorite grandson. "Drive safely."
"I will." Adrian turned his head to Julian. "Julian."
Julian lifted his head. "Yes?"
"I need to speak with you about a matter."
Julian raised an eyebrow. "About what? We can talk right now in the study."
"Not here," Adrian cut in coldly, his eyes flicking subtly toward the relatives who were blatantly straining their ears to listen. "Visit my office tomorrow afternoon."
Julian studied his brother's stoic face for a second before giving a slow nod. "Fine. I'll be there."
Adrian turned to Leo, extending his hand. Leo instantly placed his small palm into Adrian's warm grip, allowing himself to be pulled up from the chair. Together, without offering another word to the rest of the silent family, they walked out.
Inside, Julian smiles. "He grew up so fast..."
"He did," Arthur agreed softly. He paused, his weathered face creasing with genuine sorrow for the boy who had suffered the brunt of the family's cruelty. "And what about you, Julian? How much longer will you keep living in this shadow? It is time for you to let go. It is time for you to find someone else–"
"Dont grandpa," Julian sharply cut him off as he stared at his grandfather. "I am not in pain. And in this life no one will ever replace Thomas for me."
Arthur closed his eyes, letting out a solemn breath. "Julian—"
"Nobody," Julian cut him off again. "Thomas was my husband. He was my entire world. As long as I can still hear his voice in my mind, as long as I can still remember the exact shape of his face, I am never alone. I don't need anyone else."
Without waiting for his grandfather's response, Julian turned around and strode out of the room.
"I only hope," Arthur whispered into the dark. "That one day, you find a soul who can fill the terrifying emptiness in your heart."