This family is genuinely insane.
Adrian glanced at Matteo beside him, then at Luciano, then back at Maxwell.
How the hell did I end up here?
Maxwell leaned dramatically closer to his father. "Father, say sothing already! Can I go ahead with it? Do I have your blessing?"
Luciano let out a long, exhausted sigh and looked at his son like he was testing the limits of his patience. "Go ahead and do what exactly, Maxwell? Your brother only brought Adrian here. Did another woman secretly follow him through the gates too?"
Matteo’s brow furrowed, his patience officially wearing thin. "What the hell are you talking about, Father?"
Luciano pointed directly at Maxwell. "Your brother says he wants to marry two people at the sa ti. A woman and a man. He claims he likes them both equally. What kind of ridiculous fantasy is that?"
Matteo slowly turned to look at Maxwell, shaking his head in complete disbelief. "At least try to find the damn sense to handle one person properly before you start talking about marrying two people at the sa ti," he said, his voice dropping into a dangerously calm older-brother tone. "And when exactly did you even start dating them for your mind to jump straight to marriage?"
"It doesn’t matter," Maxwell replied confidently. "If there’s love, people can get married anyti."
Matteo leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "Have either of them actually agreed to participate in this little fantasy of yours? How long have you even been dating them?"
Maxwell didn’t answer. He only offered a bright, shaless smile.
Besides Matteo, Adrian couldn’t hold it in anymore. A sudden, breathless giggle escaped his lips, and he quickly covered his mouth, fully aware that they were stressed over nothing.
Maxwell cleared his throat, looking back at his father. "Well... we aren’t exactly in a relationship yet. But if Father accepts, I will go and talk to them. Because they are actually Adrian’s employees."
Matteo blinked slowly. "So let get this straight... you’re not dating them, they haven’t agreed to anything, and you’re already planning marriage?"
"It still doesn’t matter," Maxwell insisted stubbornly.
Matteo didn’t waste another second. He stood up abruptly and turned to Adrian, grabbing his hand. "Let’s go, baby. This eting is completely pointless."
Luciano glanced at Maxwell and shook his head in disappointnt.
"Matteo, wait," Luciano commanded, his deep voice cutting through the tension in the room. "At least let have a private word with you upstairs. And when are you going to bring him to see properly? This doesn’t count. I expect a formal dinner."
Matteo looked at his father, his posture easing just slightly. "Soon. I promise I’ll bring him over properly next ti and introduce him the right way."
Luciano gave a firm, satisfied nod. He stood up from his seat, his imposing figure casting a long shadow, and turned his sharp eyes directly onto Adrian. The terrifying aura returned for a split second, but his expression softened just enough to be polite. "Thank you for taking care of my son, Adrian. I believe we will et again soon."
Adrian nodded respectfully, swallowed hard, and managed a polite smile. "Thank you, sir."
Matteo gave Adrian’s hand a reassuring squeeze. "I’ll be right back," he whispered, before turning to follow his father up the massive, curving staircase to discuss business.
With the two most intimidating n out of the room, the heavy tension imdiately evaporated, leaving only Maxwell and Adrian alone in the cavernous living room.
Adrian let out a breath he felt like he’d been holding since the front gates. He looked over at Maxwell. "Your father... actually seems kind of nice."
Maxwell’s playful deanor softened into sothing more grounded. He leaned back against the sofa cushions and smiled faintly.
"Adrian, my family isn’t the best... and it’s not the worst either, despite what people say," he said. "My father isn’t exactly nice, but he’s a man who can tell right from wrong. Honestly, everything people whisper about our family out there is partly true and partly wrong. But everything you’re seeing here right now is also true."
He gestured around the grand, secure room. "My father is an incredibly dangerous man...and so is Matteo," he said. "But there’s one thing people always get wrong. In the entire history of our family, neither my father nor my brother has ever hard anyone just because they have the power to do so. If you don’t co for us, we won’t co for you. It’s as simple as that."
Maxwell shrugged lightly. "But people’s mouths move faster than their legs. Rumors spread quickly, so everyone only talks about the scary parts." He smiled faintly afterward. "My family is loving... but also dangerous to anyone who dares cross our boundaries."
Adrian looked at him for a second, summarizing it perfectly in his head. "So, in short, you an your father is not a nice man."
Maxwell laughed softly. "Not exactly. But he’s a good father who truly puts his children’s happiness before anything else."
"I understand," Adrian said, nodding as the pieces of the complicated family puzzle started falling into place.
Not long after, Matteo arrived back downstairs. His sharp eyes imdiately scanned the room before landing on Adrian. "We should leave," he said smoothly.
Adrian stood up, offering a warm wave. "Goodbye, Maxwell."
"See you soon, brother-in-law!" Maxwell called out playfully as they walked toward the grand exit.
The car was already waiting, and the drive back began. As they moved along the quiet road, Adrian turned toward Matteo with a soft, teasing smile. He lifted his left hand, deliberately showing his bare ring finger.
"Maybe next ti when you take to see your father," Adrian murmured, his eyes gleaming with mischief, "you will introduce as your fiancé, not just your boyfriend."
Matteo glanced over at him, a rare, incredibly beautiful smile spreading across his face.
Adrian tilted his head, completely shaless. "A diamond ring would look really good on my finger, don’t you think?"
Matteo chuckled, his voice dropping into a low, devoted purr. "ssage well received, sir."
Adrian smiled warmly. "Good."
They headed back ho, and the rest of the weekend passed quietly. Charles didn’t return from Mark’s house until Sunday evening, the sa day everyone finally parted ways and went back to their own places to prepare for the week ahead.
On Monday morning, Adrian turned to Matteo before heading out. "I’m going to have an incredibly busy week, there’s a mountain of work waiting for at the studio."
Matteo nodded. "Alright, baby. I’ll drop you off."
Frank and Charles had both returned to their respective hos as well.
After Matteo dropped Adrian off, he went straight up to his studio. The mont he stepped into his office and settled down, one of his staff ca in to inform him that he had a package. Adrian was surprised, he hadn’t ordered anything.
Curious, he stepped outside and found a delivery person already waiting for him, holding a gorgeous, oversized bouquet of fresh flowers along with a small gift bag.
Adrian signed for the delivery and took the flowers from the man before heading back inside. He carried the bouquet and the small gift bag into his office, then noticed a note tucked neatly between the flowers.
Curious, he pulled out the small card and flipped it over, but there was no na written on it.
Just a short ssage.
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