CEO loves me with all his soul.-Chapter 81.

In the gentle evening light that filtered through their bedroom window, Ethan and Adrian lay comfortably on the bed, close and warm in each other’s presence. Ethan turned on his side, reaching out to trace the soft line of Adrian’s jaw with his fingers. His touch was warm and lingering, and Adrian couldn’t help but close his eyes, leaning into it.

"Will I ever get used to you being this close?" Adrian murmured with a soft smile.

"Hopefully not," Ethan replied, voice barely a whisper as he leaned down to kiss Adrian’s neck, his lips trailing gently over his skin.

Adrian shivered, a light laugh escaping him. "You’re always so sure of yourself."

"Only when I’m with you," Ethan murmured, moving his hand up to cradle Adrian’s cheek. He tilted Adrian’s face up, pressing a gentle kiss on his lips, lingering just a moment longer than usual. "You bring out the best in me."

They lay together in silence for a moment, simply breathing each other in. Finally, Ethan spoke up, his tone serious but laced with warmth. "You know, I’m going to miss this... miss you."

Adrian nodded, smiling. "I’ll miss you too, Ethan. Every day. But it’s not forever."

Ethan’s eyes softened, a slight pout forming on his lips. "It better not be. I’ll be counting down the minutes."

Adrian chuckled, threading his fingers through Ethan’s. "I’ll be back soon enough, and then you’ll be begging me for a break."

"Never." Ethan leaned in, his lips grazing Adrian’s ear as he whispered, "I’m going to miss you here, beside me every night. I’ll be staring at your empty spot in bed, trying to remember how warm you feel."

Adrian’s cheeks flushed, and he looked away shyly. "Don’t make it sound so tragic."

"Oh, it will be," Ethan continued, dramatic and playful. "Who’s going to keep me warm at night? And what if I start getting cold?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Get another blanket?"

"Absolutely not," Ethan said with mock offense. "I want you, not some blanket." He pulled Adrian close, resting his forehead against his. "I’m serious, Adrian. It’s going to be hard without you."

Adrian wrapped his arms around Ethan, drawing him closer. "Then I’ll call you every night. Maybe send you a photo or two."

"Mm, photos." Ethan’s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Just make sure they’re ones no one else gets to see."

Adrian laughed, lightly swatting his arm. "You’re impossible."

"Only for you," Ethan whispered, tilting Adrian’s chin up and placing another lingering kiss on his lips. "I’ll probably be imagining you here every night, counting the days until you’re back."

Adrian sighed softly, their fingers still intertwined. "It’s only for a while, Ethan. I want to finish what I started, but... it won’t feel complete until I’m back with you."

Ethan’s gaze softened as he looked down at him, the corners of his lips turning up in a small smile. "Then I’ll keep our bed exactly as it is, waiting for you to come home to it."

Adrian leaned up, pressing a gentle kiss to Ethan’s cheek. "You’re too much sometimes, you know that?"

"Oh, just wait until you’re actually gone," Ethan said with a playful glint in his eye. "I’ll be texting you constantly. You’ll be so sick of me."

"Never," Adrian whispered, his voice soft as he nestled closer. "I could never get sick of you."

Ethan chuckled, resting his hand on Adrian’s waist. "Good. Then I’m going to hold you to that. Every single day, you’ll hear from me."

Adrian’s laugh was gentle, the sound filling the room with warmth. "Then I’ll make sure to call you before bed... though I think I might miss your voice more than I realized."

Ethan’s fingers traced slow circles on Adrian’s back. "You’ll hear it soon enough. And I’ll be waiting, no matter how long it takes."

They lay in silence for a moment, each lost in thought, before Adrian looked up at him with a smile. "You know... I think I’m going to miss your stubbornness too."

"Stubborn?" Ethan smirked, feigning offense. "I prefer the term ’dedicated.’"

Adrian chuckled, his hand reaching up to brush against Ethan’s cheek. "I know. That’s what I love about you."

"Only one thing?" Ethan teased, pretending to look hurt.

Adrian grinned. "All right, maybe I love a few other things too. Like the way you look at me... like now."

Ethan’s eyes softened as he leaned in, their foreheads touching. "Good. Because I don’t think I could stop looking at you if I tried."

Adrian’s eyes fluttered shut as Ethan kissed him again, gentle yet lingering. "You’re making this harder," he whispered against Ethan’s lips.

"I’ll take that as a compliment," Ethan murmured back, his voice low and warm. "Just promise me one thing, Adrian."

"Anything," Adrian replied, his gaze meeting Ethan’s.

"Promise me you’ll keep this smile," Ethan whispered, brushing a thumb over Adrian’s lips. "I want to know that you’re happy, even when we’re apart."

Adrian’s heart skipped a beat as he nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "I promise. And you’ll be smiling too, right?"

Ethan gave a reassuring nod, pressing another kiss to Adrian’s forehead. "You have my word."

Adrian closed his eyes, the warmth of Ethan’s embrace surrounding him. "Thank you... for everything."

"Always," Ethan replied, a soft smile on his lips as he wrapped his arms around him tightly, holding on as if he’d never let go.

--

Isaac took a deep breath, steadying his resolve as he watched Lucas from across the table. He could feel his heart hammering against his chest, each beat drumming louder as he gathered the words he’d been wanting to say for so long. He’d never been so nervous—never had he felt the stakes so high. Finally, he cleared his throat and looked directly at Lucas.

"Lucas," he began softly, "I need to tell you something important. I... I really like you."

Lucas’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he simply stared back, his face a mix of surprise and disbelief. Then, almost reflexively, he shook his head, a quick and dismissive gesture.

"No," Lucas said, voice quick and firm. "I don’t... I don’t like you like that, Isaac."

Isaac’s eyes narrowed slightly, a small smirk appearing at the corners of his mouth. He didn’t buy Lucas’s response for a second; he knew him too well. "You can say that all you want, Lucas, but I know you like me. You’re just trying to avoid it."

Lucas’s expression shifted, a glint of frustration appearing in his eyes. "No, Isaac, it’s not... that’s not it," he replied, his voice slightly shaky.

Isaac leaned forward, his confidence unshaken. "Come on, Lucas. I can tell when you’re lying. I’ve seen how you look at me."

But instead of softening, Lucas’s face darkened, his expression growing defensive. He stood up abruptly, stepping back from Isaac. "I’m serious, Isaac!" he snapped. "Just stop it!"

Isaac blinked, momentarily taken aback by the outburst. "What’s wrong? Why are you getting so upset?"

Lucas clenched his fists, his shoulders tense, his gaze hardening as he faced Isaac. "You really don’t get it, do you?" he muttered, a mix of frustration and pain in his voice. "You’re just... using me, Isaac! You’re using me for my family’s influence, for the Shaw family’s power."

Isaac’s mouth fell open in shock, the accusation slicing through him like a knife. He took a step forward, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Lucas... what are you talking about?" he whispered. "Is that really what you think?"

Lucas’s face twisted with anger as he met Isaac’s gaze. "Of course, that’s what I think! I’ve known all along. You were always the golden boy, charming everyone and making sure they saw you as this perfect, useful ally. I’m just a piece in your game—a pawn you can use however you want."

Isaac’s shock gave way to hurt, a wave of raw emotion flooding him as he listened. How could Lucas believe something like that? He took another step forward, reaching out. "Lucas, that’s not true. That’s not how I feel at all."

"Don’t lie to me," Lucas spat, pushing Isaac’s hand away. "Don’t act like you’re suddenly different."

Isaac’s gaze softened, and without another word, he closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around Lucas in a firm, unwavering hug. Lucas struggled, pushing against him, trying to break free, but Isaac only held him tighter, refusing to let go.

"Let me go, Isaac!" Lucas shouted, his voice cracking with a mix of anger and something deeper, something Isaac could feel more than hear.

"No," Isaac murmured, his voice steady, a deep determination resonating in his tone. "I’m not letting you go, Lucas, because you don’t understand yet."

Lucas continued to struggle, his resistance fierce, but Isaac’s hold was gentle yet unyielding, his arms wrapped securely around him. "I know that’s what you thought at first," Isaac whispered close to Lucas’s ear. "And maybe, just maybe, in the beginning, there was some truth to that. But it’s not like that anymore. I’m not here because of the Shaw family or anything they could offer."

Lucas’s resistance began to wane, his movements slowing as Isaac’s words began to sink in.

"I’ve found my own family now, Lucas—the Sebanil family," Isaac continued, his voice earnest. "I’ve found where I belong, and it has nothing to do with playing power games or using people. I’m here with you because I care about you. And because somewhere along the way... I fell for you, Lucas. I really, truly did."

Lucas’s body slowly relaxed, his anger ebbing away as he looked up at Isaac, searching his face for any trace of insincerity. He didn’t see any. What he saw instead was a vulnerability, a raw honesty he hadn’t expected.

Isaac, seeing the slight softening in Lucas’s gaze, leaned down, his eyes never leaving Lucas’s. "And I’ll prove it to you, Lucas. I’ll show you that I’m serious about you."

Before Lucas could respond, Isaac closed the distance between them, his lips meeting Lucas’s in a firm, gentle kiss. Lucas’s eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment he froze, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. But Isaac’s touch was gentle, his hands still resting on Lucas’s back, anchoring him in place, as if silently asking him to trust him.

Slowly, hesitantly, Lucas found himself leaning into the kiss, his eyes fluttering shut as he allowed himself to feel the warmth and sincerity Isaac offered. Isaac’s lips were soft and warm, moving with an intensity that held no hint of the manipulation Lucas had feared. Instead, it was filled with a quiet determination, a promise that lingered in every gentle movement.

As the kiss deepened, Isaac’s hand found its way to Lucas’s cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against his skin. When they finally pulled apart, both were slightly breathless, their faces close, their eyes locked in a silent exchange.

Lucas blinked, his voice barely above a whisper. "You... you really mean it?"

Isaac nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips as he kept his hand resting gently against Lucas’s cheek. "More than anything. And I’ll keep proving it to you every day if that’s what it takes."

Lucas’s cheeks flushed, a small, shy smile breaking through his defenses as he finally allowed himself to believe. "I still don’t believe you."

Isaac laughed and hugged Lucas hard. "I will prove you wrong."

This chapter is updat𝙚d by f(r)eew𝒆bn(o)vel.com