CEO loves me with all his soul.-Chapter 98.

Adrian stood outside the grand Levistis manor, his heart heavy with a mixture of dread and longing. The towering gates loomed before him, as imposing as the weight of the secrets and burdens he carried. The crisp evening air bit at his skin, but he barely noticed; his thoughts were consumed by the man who lay inside, the man he had come to see.

The manor was eerily quiet as Adrian stepped inside. Its halls, which once echoed with life and laughter, now felt cold and lifeless. His footsteps resonated against the marble floors as he made his way to the room he hadn’t visited in months. The room where Ethan lay.

His hands trembled as he pushed open the door to their bedroom. The sight before him made his breath hitch. Ethan lay on the large, ornate bed, his once vibrant and commanding presence reduced to a frail, motionless form. Tubes and IV drips were attached to his arm, and machines quietly hummed around him, monitoring every fragile beat of his heart.

Adrian froze at the threshold, his knees nearly giving out beneath him. Tears welled in his silver eyes as he took in the sight of the man he loved—the man who had always been a pillar of strength and vitality. Seeing Ethan like this was a cruel reminder of how much had changed, how much had been taken from them.

Slowly, Adrian stepped into the room, his movements hesitant as if afraid that even the slightest disturbance could shatter the fragile peace surrounding Ethan. He walked to the edge of the bed and knelt down, his fingers trembling as they reached for Ethan’s hand.

"Why..." Adrian’s voice was barely a whisper, choked with emotion. "Why does everything happen behind my back? Why can’t I be with you when you need me the most?"

His grip on Ethan’s hand tightened as he spoke, his tears spilling freely now. "You’ve always been there for me, Ethan. Always. And yet, when it’s your turn to lean on me, I’m not there. I’m never there."

He lowered his head, his tears falling onto the pristine white sheets. "I hate this. I hate feeling so helpless. I hate that I couldn’t protect you."

Adrian’s shoulders shook as he sobbed, his regret and guilt pouring out in waves. He had always prided himself on his strength, on his ability to face any challenge head-on. But now, standing here before the man he loved, he felt powerless. Useless.

"I should’ve known," he murmured. "I should’ve done more. I should’ve fought harder. If I had... maybe you wouldn’t be lying here like this."

His voice cracked, and he buried his face in Ethan’s hand, his tears soaking into the skin. "I’m sorry, Ethan. I’m so, so sorry."

For a long while, Adrian stayed like that, his emotions overwhelming him. He whispered more regrets, his words a mix of apologies and promises. But eventually, his tears began to slow, and a strange calm settled over him.

Adrian looked up at Ethan’s face, his fingers brushing against Ethan’s cheek. "You’ve always been the strong one, Ethan," he said softly. "But you don’t have to be strong alone anymore. This time, I’ll protect you. I promise."

He stood up and carefully climbed onto the bed, his movements slow and deliberate so as not to disturb the IV drips or the machines. He lay down beside Ethan, his body curling around the still form of his husband.

Adrian rested his head against Ethan’s chest, listening to the faint, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was a sound that brought him both comfort and pain—a reminder that Ethan was still here, but also a reminder of how precarious his condition was.

"I don’t know how to fix this," Adrian admitted, his voice barely audible. "I don’t know how to bring you back. But I swear I’ll find a way. I’ll do whatever it takes, Ethan. Just... just don’t give up on me. Please."

He wrapped his arms around Ethan, his embrace gentle yet firm. It felt strange, holding someone who couldn’t hold him back, but Adrian didn’t care. He needed this. He needed to feel close to Ethan, even if only for a moment.

As the minutes ticked by, Adrian felt his exhaustion catch up with him. The emotional toll of the day, combined with the physical toll of his recent endeavors, was too much to bear. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep, still clinging to Ethan as if afraid to let go.

The room was silent save for the soft hum of the machines and the quiet rhythm of their breathing. Adrian’s grip on Ethan remained firm even in his sleep, his subconscious unwilling to let go of the man he loved.

In his dreams, Adrian found himself back in a time when everything was simpler. He saw Ethan standing before him, strong and confident, his piercing gaze softened by the warmth in his eyes.

"Adrian," Dream Ethan said, his voice carrying the same commanding tone Adrian had always admired. "Why are you crying?"

"I’m not crying," Adrian replied, his voice trembling even in the dream. "I just... I don’t want to lose you."

Ethan stepped closer, his hand reaching out to cup Adrian’s cheek. "You won’t lose me," he said firmly. "I’m right here. I’ve always been here."

Adrian wanted to believe those words. He wanted to hold onto the image of Ethan standing tall, unbroken. But as the dream began to fade, so too did the illusion.

When Adrian woke, the first thing he felt was the warmth of Ethan’s body against his own. For a moment, he allowed himself to pretend that everything was fine, that Ethan was merely sleeping and would wake up any second. But reality was a cruel thing, and the sight of the IV drips and the machines quickly shattered the illusion.

Adrian sighed, his heart heavy with the weight of his promise. "I’ll protect you," he whispered again, his resolve hardening. "No matter what it takes, I’ll protect you, Ethan."

He pressed a soft kiss to Ethan’s forehead before carefully disentangling himself from the bed. His movements were slow and deliberate, ensuring he didn’t disturb the delicate setup of the medical equipment.

Adrian stood by the bedside for a moment longer, his silver eyes filled with determination. "This isn’t goodbye," he said firmly. "Not now. Not ever."

As he turned to leave the room, he glanced back at Ethan one last time. The sight of his husband lying there, so vulnerable, only fueled his resolve. He had made a promise, and he would keep it. No matter what.

Adrian paced back and forth in his study, his mind spinning with fragments of memories. For years, he had buried his past—shoved it into the darkest corners of his mind. But now, with Ethan lying in a coma, Adrian could no longer ignore what had been buried.

He grabbed his phone and hesitated for a moment before dialing Isaac’s number. The phone rang twice before Isaac’s familiar voice answered.

"Adrian?" Isaac’s tone was calm but laced with curiosity. "Is everything okay?"

Adrian swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Isaac, are you driving?"

"Yes, why?" Isaac’s voice sharpened with concern.

"Pull over," Adrian said quietly, his voice trembling ever so slightly. "I... I need to tell you something. Something important."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by the faint sound of tires rolling to a stop. "Okay," Isaac said after a moment. "I’m parked. What’s going on?"

Adrian exhaled slowly, gripping the edge of his desk for support. "I’ve been remembering things," he said carefully. "Things from before I joined the Hudel family. Before I turned five."

Isaac’s voice softened, but there was an edge of tension to it. "What kind of things?"

Adrian’s lips curled into a bitter smile, though there was no humor in it. "Things I never wanted to think about again," he admitted. "But... Ethan. I want to save him. I want to live my life with him. And for that, I need to face the truth."

Isaac didn’t respond right away, and the silence on the other end of the line was heavy. Finally, he said, "You don’t have to do this alone, Adrian. If you’re ready to talk about it, I’m here to listen. Are you... are you okay?"

Adrian’s bitter smile deepened. "Okay? No, I’m not okay, Isaac. But that’s not what matters right now."

"Then tell me," Isaac urged, his voice steady but filled with concern. "What do you remember?"

Adrian closed his eyes, the fragments of his memories piecing together like shards of broken glass. "The Shaw family," he began. "Their head—Yuden Shaw—he’s the one who took me."

Isaac’s sharp intake of breath was audible even through the phone. "The Shaw family?" he repeated, his tone laced with disbelief. "Are you sure?"

"I’m sure," Adrian said firmly. "I remember seeing him. He was there, talking to... to researchers. Scientists. They were doing something to me. I don’t know what, but it wasn’t natural. It wasn’t right."

Isaac cursed under his breath, the sound muffled but filled with frustration. "Adrian," he said after a moment, his voice taut, "listen to me. This isn’t something we can talk about over the phone. I need you to stay calm. Can you do that for me?"

Adrian let out a hollow laugh. "Calm? You’re asking me to stay calm when I’m remembering being experimented on as a child? When I’m realizing that everything in my life might have been manipulated from the start?"

"Yes," Isaac said firmly. "Because losing your head won’t help Ethan, and it won’t help you. I need you to focus, Adrian. We’ll talk about this—properly—but not like this."

Adrian sighed, his grip on the desk tightening. "Fine," he muttered. "But Isaac, you need to understand... this isn’t just about me. It’s about Ethan. It’s about our children. If the Shaw family is involved—"

"They won’t touch your family," Isaac interrupted, his voice cold and resolute. "I’ll make sure of it."

Adrian’s chest tightened at the raw determination in Isaac’s voice. For all his flaws, Isaac had always been someone he could rely on. Someone who would go to any lengths to protect the people he cared about.

"I believe you," Adrian said softly. "But we need to act quickly. Yuden Shaw... he’s dangerous, Isaac. And if he’s working with those researchers..."

Isaac’s voice dropped to a near growl. "We’ll deal with it. But first, you need to get some rest. You’ve been through enough already. I’ll come to you tomorrow, and we’ll figure this out together."

Adrian hesitated, then nodded, even though Isaac couldn’t see him. "Okay," he said quietly. "Tomorrow."

"Good," Isaac said. "And Adrian? Stay strong. Ethan needs you."

Adrian’s throat tightened, but he managed a small smile. "I know," he whispered. "Thank you, Isaac."

They ended the call, and Adrian set the phone down on the desk. His mind was still spinning, but Isaac’s words had given him a sliver of hope. He wasn’t alone in this. He had people he could rely on—people who would stand by him, no matter what.

But as he sat there in the quiet of the study, Adrian couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The memories he had uncovered were just the tip of the iceberg, and the truth lurking beneath the surface was far darker than he had ever imagined.

Adrian stood and made his way back to the bedroom where Ethan lay. He needed to be near him. To feel his presence, even if Ethan couldn’t respond.

As Adrian entered the room, he stopped and stared at Ethan for a long moment. "I’ll protect you," he whispered, the promise firm in his voice. "No matter what it takes."

And this time, Adrian vowed, he wouldn’t fail.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l