Chapter 310: The Line We Cross for Family

He leaned down to seal the moment with a deep, breathless kiss before shifting his weight, pulling Adrian’s pliant, exhausted body to rest securely on top of his chest.

Matteo stroked Adrian’s damp hair, his voice dropping to a gentle whisper. "Are you okay, baby? Do you need anything?"

Adrian shook his head softly against Matteo’s shoulder, shifting to get more comfortable. "I’m fine. I just want you close."

Matteo smiled, reaching over to pull the heavy duvet up, covering both of them securely from the cool night air. He held Adrian tightly, pressing a tender kiss against his bare shoulder. "You are incredible, you know that? So beautiful on the outside, and so tight and sweet inside. You drive me absolutely insane."

Adrian smiled warmly, his heart melting at the praise. He pressed his face into the crook of Matteo’s neck. "You are the best boyfriend ever."

"Soon, I’ll be your husband," Matteo murmured, his grip tightening protectively.

"I can’t wait for that day to come," Adrian replied softly, a sleepy comfort settling into his bones.

"Same here, my sweet boy... I love you so much."

They held each other in the quiet room, the heavy silence stretching between them for a long while as they just listened to the steady beat of each other’s hearts. The danger had finally passed, but the adrenaline was only just beginning to fade completely.

Breaking the quiet stillness, Adrian spoke up, his voice hushed. "How... how did it go with Owen?"

Instead, they stayed awake a little longer, talking softly about the sheer chaos of the past few days. They laughed quietly over how terrified everyone had looked during the execution of the plan, marveling at how perfectly Adrian’s script had played out despite the immense risks.

"Have you told Maya the truth about everything yet?" Matteo asked.

"Yes, I already called her to explain everything," Adrian sighed, recalling the difficult conversation. "She was furious at first, mostly because we kept her in the dark, but once I explained how dangerous Owen really was, she finally understood why we had to do it."

Matteo nodded, satisfied. "That’s fine. I’ll also give her a call tomorrow to talk things through and smooth it over."

Matteo pressed one last, lingering kiss to the crown of Adrian’s head, holding him flush against his chest. They kept talking in comfortable, low whispers, the warmth of the bed and the safety of each other’s arms finally lulling them both into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

The next morning, the harsh, persistent buzzing of a phone shattered the peaceful quiet of the master bedroom.

Matteo slowly stirred, a sharp frown crossing his features as he reached over to the nightstand. Bleary-eyed, he checked the screen and saw it was Mark calling. He slid the answer button and brought the phone to his ear, his voice rough with sleep. "Hello."

"Teo, you need to check the internet immediately," Mark’s voice came through, urgent and tense. "The news broke."

"Alright," Matteo replied. "I’ll check it right away."

He ended the call and opened his browser. The headlines were already exploding with the news of Owen’s death and the slaughter at his mansion. The city’s media outlets were in a frenzy, and the comment sections were completely overrun with chaos.

"This is too much! How can one man just execute people like this?"

"We are living in total fear. Just because Matteo Marcone is rich and powerful, he thinks he can do whatever he wants!"

"Justice must be served for these innocent souls! He has gone too far this time, he must be arrested!"

Dozens of articles and thousands of comments called for protests, demanding the police finally lock him away. Matteo read through the articles and the outraged public outcry with absolute indifference. His expression didn’t change a fraction. Silencing the phone, he tossed it back onto the nightstand, wrapped his arms securely around Adrian, pulling him closer into his chest, and closed his eyes to go back to sleep.

Meanwhile, by the time the morning sun fully rose, Bella passed away in the holding cells as the slow-acting toxin ran its course. Exactly as instructed, her corpse was loaded into the back of a secure vehicle and delivered straight to her family’s doorstep.

For the next few days, Matteo’s name was the only thing the city talked about. A massive divide formed, some people harshly judged him, others fiercely supported the Marcone empire, and a few pointed out the obvious: Matteo had been quiet for a long time, so whatever those dead men did to provoke him must have been unforgivable.

Watching the media firestorm grow, Adrian began to worry, the anxiety tightening in his chest. "Matteo... what if the authorities actually try to step in this time? What if you get arrested?"

Matteo gently cupped his face, kissing his lips to soothe the panic. "Don’t be scared, baby. Everything is completely under control. Do me a favor and stay off social media for a while, okay? Let me handle it."

Adrian nodded. "Okay, baby."

Matteo smiled faintly before pulling Adrian into a warm embrace, holding him close as he gently rubbed his back. "Trust me," he whispered. "Everything will be fine."

Back at Maya’s estate, a completely different storm was brewing. Ever since the news reached Maya’s husband that Matteo was the one who had orchestrated Owen’s death, the entire dynamic in their household shifted violently.

Connor stopped eating the food Maya prepared. He stopped talking to her, and when night came, he abandoned their master bedroom to sleep in the guest house.

At first, Maya tried to rationalize the sudden ice, thinking it was just stress from his business. But by the third night, she had reached her limit. As Connor picked up his pillow to leave the bedroom once again, Maya stepped in front of the door, blocking his exit.

"Honey, is everything okay?" Maya asked, her eyes searching his tense face with deep worry. "You’ve been avoiding me for three days. Talk to me."

Connor stood perfectly still, his jaw clenched tightly. After a long, suffocating silence, he finally spoke, his voice dripping with suppressed resentment. "Do you really feel good about your brother’s relationship with Matteo Marcone?"

Maya blinked, surprised by the question, but she didn’t waver. "I don’t just feel good about it, Connor. I’m incredibly happy for them. Why are you asking me this?"

Connor let out a bitter, disbelief-filled shake of his head. "Even after what he did? All the news going viral, the blood on his hands... and you still think that monster is the best choice for your brother?"

Maya smiled smoothly, crossing her arms. "I don’t think, Connor. I am absolutely sure. I know Matteo is the best choice for Adrian."

Connor stepped closer, his eyes flashing with raw anger. "Maya... your brother’s boyfriend slaughtered my cousin. Owen is dead."

"I know," Maya replied calmly, her voice dropping into a polite, even tone. "And I am truly sorry for your loss. May his soul rest in peace."

Connor stared at her, horrified by her composure. "That’s it? That’s all you have to say to me?"

A cold, mocking smirk played at the edge of Maya’s lips. "What else do you want me to say, Connor? Should I go to his corpse and sing him a lullaby? He’s already dead. We just have to accept it and move on."

She spoke with zero remorse, completely cold and fiercely loyal to her brother’s safety over Owen’s treason.

Connor took a step back, shaking his head in utter shock as he stared at his wife as if she were a total stranger. "I can’t believe you’re actually like this... You want your brother to spend the rest of his life with a monster? Are you not even terrified that one day he could turn around and kill your brother? Matteo Marcone is a devil!"

"What do you mean, a devil?" Maya asked, her voice dangerously quiet.

"Don’t pretend you don’t know exactly what I’m talking about!" Connor snapped.

Maya’s eyes flashed with fire as she stepped closer. "No, I want you to explain it to me. What do you mean, a devil? What if Owen had successfully killed my brother? What would you be saying to me right now?"

Connor clenched his fists, his voice shaking. "Matteo could have let the law handle it! He didn’t have to butcher them!"

"There is no law in Central City, and we both damn well know it!" Maya shouted, her composure finally breaking into fierce indignation. "You think if Owen had successfully killed my brother, I wouldn’t have killed him myself? I would have gladly invited him over to this very house, cooked a beautiful meal for him, and poisoned him without blinking an eye!"

Connor looked at her, horror bleeding into his expression. "I never knew... I never knew this was the kind of woman you really are."

"And I never knew this was the kind of man you are, either," Maya fired back, her gaze unyielding.

"He’s my cousin we are talking about!" Connor shouted, the veins on his neck bulging.

"And Adrian is my brother!" Maya hissed, slamming her hand against the doorframe. "I do not joke when it comes to him. Not for anyone, not even for you."

Connor stared at her, a chill running down his spine. "Would you have me killed, too, if the roles were reversed?"

Maya didn’t flinch. "Don’t put yourself in a position where I have to choose, Connor. I mean it. I do not play games when it comes to my brother. We all know Central City is corrupt to the core, so you standing there talking about the law? Oh, please. I’ll pass. Owen got exactly what he deserved, and that doesn’t make Matteo a monster. It makes him a protector. Because if the roles were reversed, what would you have said? You would have just expected me to accept that your cousin murdered my brother!"

Connor’s breath hitch, his chest heaving as the finality of her words sank in. The realization that his wife valued her brother’s life over his own family shattered something permanent between them.

"I can’t do this anymore," Connor whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and defeat. "I can’t continue with...