Chapter 312: Surrender on His Own Terms

Satisfied with his handiwork, Adrian rose onto his tiptoes and rewarded Matteo with a sweet, lingering kiss on the lips. Matteo smiled into the kiss, wrapping an arm around Adrian’s waist and holding him close for a moment longer before they finally headed downstairs together.

In the dining room, Chef Selene was already waiting, serving them a lavish breakfast in the quiet morning.

They ate comfortably, exchanging warm, knowing smiles across the table. Partway through the meal, Adrian set his fork down and rested his chin on his hand, his eyes lazily tracing Matteo’s sharp jawline, immaculate black suit, and broad shoulders. He simply sat there, admiring how effortlessly handsome his man looked in everything he wore.

Matteo caught him staring and felt an unusual wave of warmth creep up his neck. Flushing slightly beneath Adrian’s intense, affectionate gaze, he cleared his throat and murmured, "Babe... stop staring and eat your food."

Adrian smirked, completely unbothered. "Why shouldn’t I? I’m just looking at my baby. You’re always ridiculously handsome, and the best part is... you’re entirely mine."

Matteo couldn’t hide the soft smile that spread across his lips at the possessive compliment. Shaking his head fondly, he watched as Adrian finally picked up his fork again and focused on his breakfast.

Once they finished eating, Matteo stood up from the table and walked over to Adrian’s side. He leaned down and placed a sweet, lingering kiss on Adrian’s lips. "I’ll be back soon. I love you so much, baby."

"I love you more," Adrian replied softly.

Matteo turned and headed toward the main entrance, but Adrian pushed his chair back and quietly followed behind him, trailing him like a child following his father all the way to the front doors.

Noticing the quiet footsteps behind him, Matteo turned around. The moment he saw Adrian standing there, he smiled softly, let out a quiet sigh, and walked back to him. His expression softened as he gently cupped Adrian’s cheek. "Baby, trust me. I’ll be back real soon."

Adrian smiled warmly, leaning into the palm of his hand. "You better. And call me the second you get to the office, okay?"

"Okay, baby. I will," Matteo promised.

Before Matteo could turn away again, Adrian quickly rose onto his tiptoes and pressed one last energetic kiss to Matteo’s cheek. "I’ll be waiting for you!" He chirped before spinning around and running playfully back toward the grand staircase.

Matteo stood at the doorway, watching his spoiled brat disappear up the stairs, an embarrassed, utterly smitten smile spreading across his face. Standing near the entrance, the bodyguards quickly looked away, exchanging silent, amused glances at the sight of their normally ruthless boss completely undone by his lover.

Clearing his throat to regain his composure, Matteo stepped out into the morning air. He walked toward the waiting armored vehicle and slid into the back seat as the convoy pulled away from the estate, heading straight toward his office.

During the drive, Matteo made a series of quick business calls, his voice calm and commanding. But as the driver brought the armored vehicle to a smooth stop in front of his company’s headquarters, the atmosphere outside shifted dramatically.

Before Matteo could even reach for the door handle, he glanced through the tinted window and saw a sea of agitated people suddenly breaking into a run, swarming toward his vehicle.

Matteo’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are there so many people outside?"

Harry, seated in the front passenger seat, adjusted his dark suit jacket and glanced at the side mirror. "They look like protesters, Boss."

Matteo said nothing, his face an impenetrable mask of cold indifference.

Outside, an angry crowd had gathered, chanting aggressively and demanding justice.

They held up handwritten signs and banners that read: "JUSTICE FOR THE INNOCENT," "LOCK MATTEO UP," and "STOP THE MARCONE TYRANNY."

Public outrage had reached its peak. They had gathered right outside his company’s headquarters, declaring that enough was enough and demanding his immediate arrest.

Without a hint of hesitation, Matteo pushed open the car door and stepped out into the open air.

The moment his tall, imposing figure emerged, an abrupt, suffocating silence fell over the front lines of the crowd.

The aggressive chants died instantly. Acting on pure instinct, the protesters who had been shouting just seconds earlier flinched and stumbled backward, creating a wide circle around him. Even the opportunistic reporters and camera crews didn’t dare step any closer, frozen in place by the sheer, lethal aura he radiated.

Matteo’s bodyguards quickly formed a tight, impenetrable shield around their boss. "Make way. Step back," they commanded firmly, their hands resting near their jackets.

Matteo didn’t spare the signs or the frightened faces a single glance. Adjusting his cuffs, he strode through the parted crowd with slow, terrifyingly confident steps before passing through the glass doors and into his office building as though the chaotic mob outside didn’t even exist.

Once inside his executive office on the top floor, Matteo settled behind his massive mahogany desk and immediately dialed Adrian’s number. The cold, unapproachable mask he had worn outside melted away instantly, replaced by a soft, genuine smile as Adrian’s voice filled his ear. He spent a few quiet minutes reassuring his boy, letting him know he had arrived safely before gently ending the call.

The moment the call ended, Matteo’s expression turned utterly unreadable—dark and calculating. He dialed his father’s direct line.

After a few rings, the call connected.

"Father," Matteo said calmly. "The media circus is out of control. The public actually dared to swarm the entrance to my office today in protest."

On the other end, his father’s voice remained unbothered, heavy with experience. "Let the fools shout, Matteo. A dog barking at the gates changes nothing. Focus on your work."

Matteo listened silently, agreeing with the assessment. He spent the rest of the day conducting high-level meetings, working through the late afternoon as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

By evening, as the sun dipped beneath the skyline, Matteo took the private elevator down to the parking garage to head home. Harry held the rear door of the armored vehicle open for him, but before Matteo could step inside, the sharp echo of hurried footsteps and screeching tires reverberated through the concrete structure.

Several police cruisers pulled up, blocking the exit. A squad of high-ranking officers stepped out, their lead inspector holding up a formal arrest warrant.

"Matteo Marcone," the lead inspector announced, his voice echoing through the parking garage. "You are hereby placed under arrest."

Harry and the surrounding Marcone bodyguards reacted instantly, their hands moving inside their dark suits, ready to draw their weapons. But Matteo calmly raised a single hand, silently signaling his men to stand down.

Without a word of protest, a single argument, or even the slightest flicker of surprise crossing his face, Matteo calmly stepped forward and followed the officers to the waiting police cruiser.

Back at the Matteo estate, Adrian was pacing back and forth in their bedroom, anxiously checking the clock every few seconds.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed violently in his hand. Seeing Harry’s name on the caller ID, Adrian picked up instantly. "Harry? Is Matteo on his way home?"

"Sir... Boss has been arrested," Harry’s voice came through the line. "The police intercepted us in the parking garage. They just drove him to the central precinct."

"What?!" Adrian screamed, his heart slamming against his ribs. "How did that happen?! Why didn’t you guys stop them?!"

Harry quickly explained the situation, detailing how Matteo had explicitly ordered them to stand down and let the authorities take him.

By the time the call ended, Adrian’s mind was racing. Panic consumed him, leaving no room for pride or resentment. Without a second thought, he reached for his phone, scrolled to his father’s number, and pressed the call button.

If there was anyone with enough influence to help Matteo now, it was his father.

At first, his father let the phone ring. He was still deeply bitter, feeling like Adrian had played him like a fool by faking his death during the whole scheme. But on the third ring, he finally picked up.

Before his father could say a single harsh word, Adrian broke down, his voice trembling as he blurted out the situation. "Father, please! Matteo was just arrested by the central police! Please, you have to help me!"

"Calm down, Adrian," he said. "No one dares arrest Matteo Marcone without authorization from someone powerful. I’ll find out who signed the warrant, who approved the operation, and exactly what’s happening. I’ll make a few calls immediately. Stay where you are and don’t do anything reckless."

Tears streamed down Adrian’s cheeks as he gripped the phone tight. "Please, Father... please look into it right away. I can’t lose him."

"I will call you back shortly," his father assured him before hanging up.

For the next ten minutes, Adrian paced the length of the room like a caged animal, chewing his bottom lip raw as his mind spun through terrifying scenarios. Finally, his phone rang again. Adrian answered on the very first ring. "Father?! What did they say?!"

His father let out a long, incredulous sigh on the other end. "Adrian... take a deep breath. Your boyfriend isn’t in any real danger."

Adrian blinked through his tears. "What do you mean?"

"Matteo wasn’t arrested because someone reported him or backed him into a corner," his father explained, sounding equal parts impressed and exasperated. "Matteo was the one who personally called the Police Commissioner earlier today and ordered them to come arrest him."

Adrian froze, his jaw dropping in sheer disbelief. "He... he asked them to arrest him?!"

"Yes," his father replied calmly. "Matteo allowed himself to be arrested. He isn’t trapped, he’s controlling the situation. By walking into that precinct on his own terms, he keeps the authorities from turning him into a fugitive and forces everyone to play by the rules. He knows exactly what he’s doing, Adrian. So stop crying, calm down, and let him play this out."

After the call ended, Adrian stood alone in the quiet room, staring at his phone screen in total shock.

As the realization sank in, that Matteo had willingly handed himself over to the police just hours after promising he would come straight home to him, a sudden, furious wave of disbelief washed over Adrian.

"I am going to kick his ass," Adrian muttered...