After Iris left Adrian’s office and he finished eating, he stayed back for a while, trying to relax while checking through some remaining work inside his office.

Not long later, Charles suddenly sent him a message.

He explained that there was going to be a workers’ holiday the next day, so nobody would really be going to work.

Because of that, he asked if it was possible for them to come over that same night instead.

He admitted he honestly didn’t care about staying long. He just wanted the chance to have a proper conversation with Mark and after that, he could leave peacefully.

Adrian honestly didn’t even know there was going to be a workers’ holiday the next day, so he quickly confirmed it himself first.

And after confirming it was true, he slowly realized Charles’s feelings for Mark had already become far more serious than he originally admitted for him to suddenly want to come over that same night instead of waiting until the next day.

At first, Adrian honestly didn’t know how to answer him since Friday had originally been the plan.

But eventually, Adrian simply replied that he would get back to him because he needed to speak to Matteo first.

Charles immediately replied:

"Alright. I’ll wait for your response."

A moment later, Adrian texted Matteo and explained the sudden change of plans.

Matteo replied almost immediately that it was fine.

He admitted that he hadn’t informed Mark yet because he originally planned to tell him after getting home later that night that Charles would be coming the next day.

And now that the plan had changed to that same night instead, Matteo mentioned that he should probably call Mark quickly to inform him.

But the moment Adrian read that message, he immediately replied and told Matteo not to say anything.

He wanted it to be a complete surprise.

And that was how the original plan for the next day suddenly changed to that same night instead.

While Mark stood there looking completely shocked.

The smile on his face slowly disappeared.

His entire expression froze slightly from surprise.

Because clearly, he hadn’t been expecting to see Charles there at all.

The look on his face instantly said everything.

For a few awkward seconds, neither of them even greeted each other properly.

The atmosphere became strangely tense afterward.

Thankfully, Matteo immediately stepped in before things could become even more uncomfortable.

He turned toward Selene calmly.

"Take Frank and Charles to the guest rooms," he instructed.

Selene nodded immediately before leading them upstairs.

A moment later, everyone headed upstairs together.

Frank and Charles eventually settled inside one of the guest rooms while Matteo and Adrian returned to their own room.

The moment the bedroom door closed behind them, Adrian immediately turned toward Matteo with amusement written all over his face.

"Why did Mark look that shocked?" he asked while laughing softly.

Matteo instantly sighed.

"You just pushed me directly into trouble," he muttered.

Adrian laughed even harder afterward.

Matteo walked further into the room before continuing. "Mark hates unexpected situations. Especially situations involving people he wasn’t prepared to see."

Then he glanced back at Adrian. "And definitely not someone like Charles."

Matteo rubbed his forehead. "Now I’m going to be the one to suffer for this," he complained. "Because once Mark starts yelling at me later, I’ll be the one receiving all the scolding."

That instantly made Adrian burst into laughter. "So you’re actually scared of your brother?" he teased.

Matteo immediately answered without shame. "I might not be scared of anyone else in this world," he admitted, "but when Mark gets angry... I’m definitely scared."

Adrian stared at him in disbelief. "So you actually have people you’re scared of?"

"Yes," Matteo answered. "There are actually two people I’m most scared of right now."

Adrian raised a brow. "Your father and Mark?"

Matteo shook his head once. "No. Not my father."

That instantly caught Adrian’s attention. "Then who’s the second person?"

Matteo looked at him for a second before replying. "First, I need to go talk to Mark before he starts planning my funeral."

Adrian laughed.

"After that," Matteo said, "then we can talk about the second person later."

Adrian murmured. "Alright."

And with that, Matteo left Adrian in the room before heading back downstairs.

By the time he got there, Mark was nowhere to be seen. One of the bodyguards immediately informed him that Mark had already gone back to his room.

Matteo sighed before making his way upstairs again.

When he reached Mark’s door, he knocked once before pushing it open. Mark was sitting on the edge of the bed.

But the second he saw Matteo enter, he immediately stood up.

The atmosphere inside the room instantly became tense.

The two brothers stood facing each other in silence.

Both tall.

Both carry almost the same intimidating presence.

But unlike Matteo’s calm expression, Mark’s face was tight with barely controlled frustration.

"I don’t like what you just did," Mark said coldly.

Matteo nodded immediately. "I know."

"No, you don’t," Mark snapped.

He stepped closer, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Because if you actually understood what you did wrong, you wouldn’t have done it in the first place."

Matteo stayed silent.

Mark let out a sharp breath, trying to control himself.

"You brought someone here unexpectedly without even warning me first," he continued. "Not even a proper conversation. Not even a simple message saying, ’Mark, Charles is coming over.’"

Mark stared at him in disbelief. "You just let me see him standing there like some kind of surprise."

Matteo rubbed the back of his neck.

"I know," he admitted quietly. "I handled it."

Mark scoffed. "You wouldn’t tolerate that if it were you," he fired back instantly. "If someone suddenly brought a person you weren’t mentally prepared to see into your space without warning you first, you wouldn’t take that shit either."

Matteo didn’t even argue.

Because Mark was right.

"I know," Matteo admitted. "I really don’t have any excuse to justify what I did."

That softened Mark slightly...

Matteo took a step closer.

"I’m sorry," he repeated. "I don’t want you getting angry over this."

Mark finally sighed heavily afterward before sitting back down on the bed.

The anger on his face remained, but it wasn’t as intense anymore.

Matteo quietly walked over and sat beside him.

For a few seconds, silence filled the room again.

Then finally, Mark spoke.

"It’s not even the fact that he came here," he admitted. "What annoyed me most was the fact that nobody informed me beforehand."

Matteo nodded instantly. "I know," he murmured. "And I’m sorry for that."

Mark stayed quiet.

Then after a moment, he asked. "So why exactly did Charles suddenly come here tonight?"

Matteo explained. "Normally, Adrian and his friends spend time together often," he said. "And recently, things have been difficult and stressful. I didn’t want Adrian staying alone at his place for now... because of safety reasons, so I suggested inviting his friends here instead."

Mark listened.

"That’s the reason they’re here," Matteo finished.

Mark said. "It’s fine," he muttered. "I just honestly didn’t know how to react when I saw him."

Matteo chuckled.

"Relax. By tomorrow the awkwardness will probably disappear. You’ll both greet each other properly and talk normally."

Mark sighed before nodding once.

"Alright."

After that, the tension between them faded away.

The conversation naturally shifted toward business matters and other family discussions for a while before Matteo eventually stood up again.

"I should head back to my room," he said.

Mark simply nodded.

And with that, Matteo finally left the room.

The moment Matteo stepped inside the room, Adrian immediately jumped up from the bed and walked closer to him.

"Did Mark get angry?" he asked quickly.

Matteo instantly sighed dramatically before walking further inside.

"He nearly beat your man," he teased. "I almost lost my life in there."

Adrian immediately gasped in fake shock.

"Good thing he didn’t beat you," he replied. "At least you’re still standing here alive. But seriously... is he still angry?"

Matteo stopped walking immediately and stared at him.

"I just told you your boyfriend almost got beaten up," he said in disbelief. "And you don’t even care about me?"

Adrian rolled his eyes.

"Stop being dramatic," he muttered. "Just tell me if he’s still angry or not because Charles is worried after seeing the way Mark reacted downstairs."

Matteo narrowed his eyes afterward.

"So now you care more about your friend than your own boyfriend?"

Adrian crossed his arms immediately.

"I knew them before I knew you," he replied. "And obviously my friend is worried."

"Wow," he muttered. "I understand now. You don’t actually love me. You love your friends more."

And with that, he purposely walked over and sat down on the sofa dramatically without answering the question.

"Baby..." Adrian murmured.

Matteo ignored him.

Adrian walked closer and climbed directly onto Matteo’s lap.

"Baby," Adrian murmured, wrapping his arms around his neck. "Okay, fine. I’m sorry."

Matteo looked away stubbornly.

Adrian immediately became dramatic.

"Oh my God," he gasped loudly. "Why would Mark try to beat my poor innocent baby because of Charles?"

Matteo’s lips twitched slightly.

Adrian continued dramatically, "Yes, we brought Charles here unexpectedly, but Mark didn’t have to overreact like that. Baby, don’t mind him, okay?"

That was the exact moment Matteo finally broke and chuckled.

"Fake," he muttered while shaking his head. "You’re so fake."

Adrian placed a hand against his chest.

"No, seriously," he continued while trying not to laugh. "I’m genuinely angry at Mark right now. Why would he scold my man?"

That only made Matteo laugh harder.

Eventually, he finally gave up the act and explained properly that Mark...