CEO loves me with all his soul.-Chapter 87. Leaving.

Adrian stood in the middle of their bedroom, meticulously folding clothes into a sleek black suitcase. The sound of zippers and the occasional rustle of fabric filled the air. Ethan leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed but his expression soft, watching Adrian with a mixture of concern and affection.

"Make sure you’re careful abroad," Ethan began, his deep voice tinged with a protective edge. "Don’t talk to strangers unnecessarily, and if anyone acts suspicious, walk away. Also, call home every day. No excuses."

Adrian turned to him, a gentle smile on his face. "You sound like a worried dad sending his kid off to college."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Maybe I am, but you’re far too beautiful to not be careful. And unlike a worried dad, I have every reason to be overprotective."

Adrian laughed softly and moved toward him, his silver eyes gleaming under the warm light of the room. He reached up and gently cupped Ethan’s cheek before pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his lips.

"I’ll be fine, Ethan," Adrian assured him as he pulled back, his voice tender and reassuring. "Diana’s going with me. She’s not going to let anything happen to me, and you know how bossy she can be."

Ethan grunted in reluctant agreement, though his arms circled Adrian’s waist instinctively. "Diana’s presence is the only thing keeping me from chaining you to the house," he muttered.

Adrian’s cheeks flushed, a shy smile spreading across his face. "You’re being ridiculous," he said, resting his hands on Ethan’s chest. "Besides, it’s just one month. And you can come visit me whenever you want."

Ethan leaned closer, his forehead brushing against Adrian’s. "I might just take you up on that. Don’t tempt me, Adrian. You know I’ll miss you."

The vulnerability in Ethan’s voice made Adrian’s heart squeeze. "I’ll miss you too," he whispered.

His gaze shifted suddenly to the crib in the corner of the room, where the twins lay peacefully asleep. Their soft, rhythmic breathing was barely audible over the quiet hum of the room. Adrian’s silver eyes filled with sadness as he walked over to the crib, gently brushing his fingers over the tiny fists of their five-month-old daughter, Seraphina.

"I’ll miss them so much," Adrian said softly, his voice tinged with regret. "What if they forget me while I’m gone?"

Ethan moved to stand behind Adrian, placing his hands gently on his shoulders. "Adrian, they’re only five months old. They won’t forget you. And even if they could, we’ll make sure they hear your voice every day. Just keep calling, and they’ll remember. You’re their papa—no one can replace that."

Adrian turned to look at Ethan, his eyes glistening. "I just feel like I’m missing out on precious time with them. What if they learn something new while I’m away? What if they grow so much that I don’t recognize them when I come back?"

Ethan chuckled, his deep laugh warm and soothing. "Adrian, you’re going away for a month, not a year. By the time you’re back, they’ll still be tiny and adorable, just like they are now. And if they learn something new, I’ll record every second of it so you don’t miss a thing."

Adrian’s lips curved into a small smile. "You promise?"

"On my life," Ethan said firmly, wrapping his arms around Adrian and pulling him close.

Adrian leaned into Ethan’s chest, letting his warmth calm the unease that had been bubbling in his heart all morning. "You know," he said timidly, his voice muffled against Ethan’s shirt, "after I finish my final exams, I’m never going far from you or the kids again. I don’t want to feel like this ever again."

Ethan pressed a kiss to the top of Adrian’s head. "We’ll hold you to that, love. But for now, focus on your exams and enjoy your time with Diana. We’ll all be waiting for you when you get back."

Adrian nodded, his resolve hardening. He stepped out of Ethan’s embrace and looked at the nearly packed suitcase, then back at the crib. After a moment’s hesitation, he reached down and picked up one of the twins’ tiny blankets, tucking it into the suitcase.

"What are you doing?" Ethan asked, his tone curious.

Adrian smiled shyly. "Taking a piece of home with me. It’ll remind me of them."

Ethan’s heart swelled with love as he watched Adrian’s thoughtful gesture. "You’re incredible, you know that?"

Adrian blushed but didn’t respond, focusing instead on zipping up the suitcase.

A knock at the door interrupted the tender moment. Diana’s voice came from the hallway, impatient and teasing. "Adrian, if you’re done being mushy with your husband, we need to leave soon. I’m not missing our flight because you couldn’t let go of your family for five minutes!"

Adrian rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched with amusement. "Coming, Diana!" he called back.

Ethan chuckled. "I don’t think Diana will change in future, will she?"

"Not at all," Adrian agreed. He turned to Ethan one last time, his expression serious. "Take care of yourself while I’m gone, okay? Don’t overwork yourself, and make sure the twins get plenty of love."

Ethan placed a hand on Adrian’s cheek, his thumb brushing over his soft skin. "You don’t need to worry about me or the kids. Just focus on yourself and come back to us safely."

Adrian nodded, his silver eyes shimmering with emotion. He stood on his tiptoes and kissed Ethan deeply, pouring all his love and longing into the kiss. When they finally pulled apart, Adrian rested his forehead against Ethan’s, their breaths mingling.

"I love you," Adrian whispered.

"I love you more," Ethan replied, his voice thick with emotion.

With one final look at his sleeping twins and a lingering glance at Ethan, Adrian picked up his suitcase and walked out the door, leaving a piece of his heart behind.

As the sound of the car pulling away reached Ethan’s ears, he sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the crib. He felt the ache of Adrian’s absence already but knew that this temporary separation would only make their reunion sweeter.

Leaning over, he kissed Alina’s tiny forehead and whispered, "Your papa will be back soon. And until then, I’ll take care of everything."

The twins stirred slightly, their soft breaths a comforting reminder of the family he and Adrian had built together.

--

Adrian and Diana sat in the backseat of a sleek black car, the low hum of the engine the only sound accompanying the quiet anticipation that hung in the air. The sun was high, casting a warm glow through the car windows as they drove toward the airport. Despite the excitement of the trip, Adrian couldn’t shake the heavy feeling in his chest. His mind kept drifting back to Ethan, to the twins, and the empty space they left behind.

Diana glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her face as unreadable as ever. "You know," she began, breaking the silence, "if you miss your family too much, I can always help you out. We could get that degree of yours without much effort, no need to spend time away from them."

Adrian turned to her, surprised by the offer. Diana was known for her bluntness and often devil-may-care attitude toward most things, so her suggestion felt unusually... easy.

"What do you mean?" Adrian asked, his voice cautious.

Diana grinned, her eyes glinting mischievously. "You know. A little bit of the ’right’ connections, a little bit of bending the rules. I can talk to a few people, get you some favor. It’ll be like you never left."

Adrian shook his head, the frown deepening on his face. "Diana, I can’t take shortcuts. I’m going to do this on my own. No easy way out. I need this. For me."

Diana’s smile faltered slightly, but she didn’t look surprised. Her Dad Jesper was also stubborn in few things too, Adrian seems to have inherited from him. "You’re a pain, you know that?" she said with a sigh, though her tone was fond. "But fine, I get it. You want to do it the hard way."

Adrian turned his gaze back to the passing streets, the city beginning to blur into the outskirts. "It’s not about doing it the hard way, Diana. It’s about earning it. I’m not like you, always getting what you want without even trying. I’ve got to work for it. I need to know I did it myself."

Diana snorted, clearly not appreciating the jab. "I don’t get everything without trying," she muttered, crossing her arms in mock indignation. "But whatever, it’s your life. Just don’t come crying to me when you’re stressing over exams and missing your family. I’ll be around to make sure you don’t flunk out."

Adrian couldn’t help the soft laugh that escaped him. "I think I can manage, thanks."

They were quiet for a while after that, the atmosphere between them a comfortable silence, despite the underlying tension Adrian couldn’t quite shake.

As the car pulled up to the airport, the first real pang of separation hit Adrian. The glass doors ahead were a gateway, one that would take him further from home than he had ever been.

Diana noticed the shift in his mood, her expression softening. "You okay?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

Adrian nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah. I’m just... I’m going to miss them. Ethan, the kids... I’ll miss them so much."

Diana gave a knowing glance. "I can’t blame you. I’m going to miss you too, you know. Who’s going to keep me entertained if you’re gone?"

Adrian chuckled softly. "You’ll manage."

They stepped out of the car, and Adrian could already feel the cool air of the airport against his skin, the bustling energy of travelers swarming around them. The line for check-in was already a bit long, and a familiar weight of anxiety pressed against his chest. He glanced back at Diana, who was already pulling their bags from the trunk with her usual efficiency.

"Don’t worry too much, Adrian," she said, her voice softer now, no longer teasing. "I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly. This is your time to focus on your studies, to take a break from everything else. You need it, even if you don’t realize it."

Adrian nodded, his heart heavy with mixed emotions. "I know, Diana. I know."

The check-in process was quick, and before long, they were making their way to security. Adrian looked around, half-expecting to see Ethan or one of the twins running toward him. But there was no one, just the buzz of travelers and the impersonal rush of people who had their own destinations. It was strange, this sense of finality, knowing that he was about to board a flight and leave everything behind, even if just for a short time.

"Don’t think too hard," Diana said, noticing the tension in Adrian’s posture. "You’re doing what you need to do. And like I said, it’s just a month. Before you know it, you’ll be back home with Ethan and the kids."

"I know," Adrian whispered, but even as he said it, he wasn’t sure. The idea of being away from them, especially with everything that had been happening lately, felt harder than he had expected.

They reached the gate, and Adrian’s heart skipped a beat as the reality of leaving sank in. The thought of the twins, their little faces, those tiny hands reaching out to him as they always did, made his chest ache. The warmth of Ethan’s embrace, his words of comfort, felt like they had just happened—and now, it felt as though they were already fading, slipping away.

Diana handed him his boarding pass, her expression unreadable. "You’ve got this," she said quietly.

Adrian nodded, swallowing hard. "I’ll be back soon, Diana."

As the boarding announcement rang through the speakers, Adrian glanced at Diana one last time. She gave him a nod of encouragement, and without another word, he turned to walk toward the gate.

The heavy feeling in his chest remained, but there was also a sense of resolve now. He was going to do this. For his family, for himself. And when he came back, he would return stronger, more focused. He would never be gone for long again.

As the flight attendants began to usher passengers onto the plane, Adrian took a deep breath, looking back one last time at Diana. She gave him a small wave, her eyes soft with unspoken affection.

With a final look at the bustling airport, Adrian stepped onto the plane, ready to start the next Chapter of his journey.

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