Chapter 314: A Promise to Never Hide Again

Worse still, Matteo hadn’t said a single word about the police, the arrest, or his plan.

The realization hit Adrian like a physical blow. He didn’t want me to know, Adrian thought, his heart shattering into a thousand pieces as tears soaked the pillowcase. He’s keeping secrets from me now. He thinks I’m weak... he thinks I’m just a problem he has to manage. The feeling of being excluded, protected like a fragile child rather than treated as an equal partner, cut him deeper than any injury ever could.

A few minutes later, the bathroom door creaked open.

Matteo stepped back into the dim bedroom, fresh and smelling clean. He wiped his damp hair with a towel, his dark eyes immediately settling on the quiet, motionless figure beneath the duvet.

On the bed, Adrian desperately tried to sleep and forget the ache in his chest, but he couldn’t. The moment Matteo climbed into bed and settled onto his back, Adrian pulled the duvet down. Without saying a word, he scooted closer, rested his head on Matteo’s chest, and wrapped an arm around his waist. Then he tilted his head up, his tear-stained face visible in the dim light, and looked into Matteo’s eyes.

"We promised to tell each other everything... right?" Adrian asked softly, his voice still thick with emotion.

Matteo reached up and gently stroked Adrian’s hair. "Yes, baby."

"Then why did you hide the fact that you were arrested today?"

Matteo froze, his dark eyes widening in genuine surprise before softening with understanding. "Oh, baby... is that why you were so hurt?"

Adrian nodded silently, pressing his lips together as a fresh wave of vulnerability washed over him. "Yes."

"I’m so sorry, baby." Matteo immediately sat up, gently guiding Adrian upright with him before taking both of his hands in his own, his grip warm and reassuring. "I swear I wasn’t trying to keep secrets from you. But after everything I found out at the police station, I decided not to tell you tonight because I didn’t want to put you through any more stress. I wanted to spare you from worrying about everything that’s happening around us."

Adrian frowned, his eyebrows pulling together. "What are you talking about?"

Matteo gently rubbed his thumbs over the backs of Adrian’s hands as he explained everything. "The arrest wasn’t real in the way everyone thinks it was. I arranged it with someone I trust at the top of the department. Officially, I was brought in for questioning. Unofficially, it gave me a reason to be inside the station without raising suspicion."

He paused, his expression growing colder.

"While I was there, someone on the inside helped me access the department’s internal records. I asked them to check whether anyone had filed any complaints or reports against me. Since it had been days and the police hadn’t come for me, I wanted to know if anyone was actively trying to build a case against me."

Matteo let out a slow breath before meeting Adrian’s eyes again.

"Owen’s family has been pushing hard, just as I expected. But... the person putting the most pressure on the police and constantly filing reports against me is Connor."

Adrian’s breath caught in his throat. "Maya’s husband...?"

"Yes," Matteo replied quietly. "I knew how much it would hurt you and Maya if I brought his name into this tonight, so I kept it to myself. But I was wrong to keep you in the dark. Please forgive me, baby. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I should have told you the truth from the beginning."

Adrian fell silent for a moment, trying to process Connor’s betrayal. Then he shook his head, pushing the thought aside as something even more important took over his mind.

"What happens now?" he asked anxiously. "Are they going to keep interrogating you? Will they try to press formal charges?"

Matteo offered him a faint, reassuring smile. "I told you not to worry, baby."

"I just want to know, Matteo," Adrian pressed, his eyes searching his lover’s face.

"In three days, the investigation will be closed," Matteo said calmly.

Adrian stared at him in confusion. "Closed? How can you be so sure?"

"Because they have nothing," Matteo replied. "They’ve searched everywhere they could. There are no witnesses, no surveillance footage, no forensic evidence, and nothing that can place me at the scene. They don’t have a single piece of evidence that ties me to Owen’s death. All they have are accusations, rumors, and Connor’s insistence that I’m responsible. None of that is enough to prove murder in court."

"But Connor keeps reporting you," Adrian said.

"I know," Matteo replied. "Connor and Owen’s family can file as many complaints as they want, but complaints aren’t evidence. The police still have to prove I committed the crime, and they can’t prove something they have no evidence for."

Adrian looked at him, still trying to understand. "So... that’s why you’re not worried?"

Matteo smiled and leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to the tip of Adrian’s nose.

"There’s a huge difference between simply being rich and having the right connections. My father built his empire with both, and I’ve done the same. I know exactly how this investigation is going, and I know they have nothing that can tie me to Owen’s death. Once they’ve completed the remaining procedures, they’ll have no choice but to close the case."

"I promise you, baby," he said softly. "Everything will be over in three days."

Adrian frowned, still looking unconvinced. "I don’t understand. You make it sound so easy."

Matteo smiled softly and gently cupped Adrian’s cheek.

"You don’t have to understand everything, baby," he said quietly. "You just have to trust me. Everything is under control."

Adrian glanced at him, his brows drawn together with lingering anxiety. "Then don’t go to the office tomorrow. Stay home until I’m completely sure this case is actually over."

Matteo shook his head, his expression turning pragmatic. "Baby, I have to keep going into the office. In fact, I need to stay visible and out in public even more right now. If I suddenly lock myself away at home, they’ll interpret it as guilt, they’ll think I’m hiding something."

"I understand, but you can’t just let yourself get arrested again," Adrian insisted, his eyes narrowing. "If you do, I swear I will—"

Matteo looked at him, a playful, knowing smirk touching his lips as he raised a hand to brush his thumb across Adrian’s lower lip gently. "You will what?"

Adrian glared at him, but as his gaze drifted downward, it landed squarely on the front of Matteo’s pajama pants. He immediately shot out a finger, pointing directly at Matteo’s groin. "I’ll cut your cock off."

Matteo gasped playfully, his hands instantly shooting down to grab his package in mock defense. "Whoa, baby! What will you be enjoying every night if you cut it off?"

Adrian couldn’t hold back the sudden laugh that broke through his seriousness, a soft smile finally curving his lips. "I’m serious, Matteo. Don’t go getting yourself arrested again, okay?"

Matteo’s expression softened into deep, genuine remorse. He reached out, pulling Adrian into his arms. "Okay, baby. I’m sorry for scaring you tonight... please forgive me."

Adrian melted into the embrace, resting his cheek against Matteo’s chest as he wrapped his arms around him. "Just... don’t keep anything from me again, okay?"

"Okay, baby," Matteo whispered, kissing the top of his head. "I love you so much, Adrian."

Adrian grinned faintly and hugged him a little tighter. "I love you so much too, Matteo."

A quiet, comfortable warmth settled over the room. Adrian smiled against his skin, breaking the lingering tension as he pulled back slightly. "Are you hungry?"

Matteo’s dark eyes flared with a sudden, mischievous heat as he leaned in close, his voice dropping to a low, husky purr against Adrian’s ear. "I am hungry... but not for food. I’m hungry for you."

Adrian swatted playfully at his chest, a rosy blush dusting his cheeks as he narrowed his eyes. "No sex for you tonight. That’s your punishment."

Matteo chuckled, wrapping an arm around his waist to pull him closer. "Come on, baby. I’ll do two rounds and that’s it."

"No, don’t touch me. I don’t want to be touched," Adrian huffed, crossing his arms with a dramatic pout. "I’ve decided. I’m going celibate."

Matteo threw his head back and laughed hard, the deep sound vibrating through the mattress. "Go celibate, huh? How, baby? You know my cock always wants you, and yours wants me just as much. It’s not possible. Celibacy is for single people and people who aren’t deeply in love—not us."

"I don’t care," Adrian shot back stubbornly. "No sex until this whole mess with the police is completely over."

"You can’t be serious," Matteo murmured, sliding a hand down to slide over Adrian’s heat through the thin fabric of his shorts.

Adrian gasped, a sudden giggle breaking through his tough act as he tried to bat Matteo’s hand away. "Stop it, you idiot, I’m serious!"

They tumbled back onto the mattress, wrestling playfully in a tangle of limbs and soft laughter, the heavy fears of the night completely melting away between them.

Finally, out of breath and thoroughly exhausted, they tangled their legs together under the heavy duvet. Settling into the quiet safety of the night, Matteo wrapped his arms securely around Adrian, pulling him flush against his chest as they drifted off to sleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

From that night onward, the days moved with a swift, steady rhythm.

Just as Matteo had promised...