Chapter 318: The Courage to Face the Past

"Now that’s a question I can help with. Tell me what you’re imagining, and we’ll plan something he’ll never forget."

Adrian flashed Maxwell a bright smile. "See? That’s exactly why I like you. You’re always full of vibes."

He grinned mischievously. "Alright, here’s the plan..."

Adrian began laying out his vision. "I want to propose to Matteo with a heartfelt speech before anything else. I want him to know just how much he means to me and how deeply I love him. I want him to feel truly loved and appreciated before I even ask the question."

He let out a small sigh, resting his chin in his hand.

"The only problem is..." he muttered. "Matteo is ridiculously rich. He can buy anything he wants, so I have no idea what kind of grand gesture would actually surprise him or make the proposal feel special enough."

Maxwell chuckled, thoughtfully tapping a finger against his chin. "Well, if you’re stuck on what to give him, let’s look at it from a different angle."

Adrian looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

Maxwell smiled and pointed a finger at him. "Tell me what kind of proposal you’d want if you were the one being proposed to."

Adrian blinked in surprise, tilting his head. "Wait... you mean if Matteo were proposing to me? Like... my dream proposal?"

Maxwell nodded with a smile. "Exactly."

Adrian fell silent for a moment, imagining it. A dreamy smile slowly spread across his face, and his eyes softened.

"If it were up to me..." he began quietly, "I wouldn’t want anything too flashy or over the top. No crowded stadiums, no huge public spectacle."

He smiled to himself, already picturing the moment. "I’d want it somewhere quiet, intimate, and personal. Just the two of us, away from all the noise."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hands, painting the picture in the air. "Maybe somewhere surrounded by nature... or even at home, where we feel the most comfortable. Somewhere we can look into each other’s eyes without anyone interrupting us."

His smile grew even softer. "I’d want him to hold my hands, look at me like I’m the only person in the world, and tell me everything that’s in his heart before he asks me to marry him. That’s all I’d ever need."

Maxwell listened attentively, nodding with an approving smile. "See? That’s our starting point," he said. "You don’t need to impress Teo with something expensive. What matters is creating a moment that feels real and unforgettable."

He leaned forward slightly, his grin widening.

"We’ll take everything you just described and build it around him. It’ll still have that same intimacy, but we’ll make it feel like it was designed especially for Teo."

Adrian looked at Maxwell, uncertainty flickering across his face. "Do you really think something that simple would work on Matteo? He’s used to grand gestures."

Maxwell chuckled and waved a hand dismissively. "Of course it will. Whatever you do, it’ll mean the world to him because it’s coming from you." He smiled knowingly. "Trust me, Teo isn’t going to care about how much money you spend or how extravagant it is. He’ll only care that it’s you standing in front of him."

Adrian nodded slowly, though another thought suddenly crossed his mind. "What about the ring? Matteo told me once that he was planning to propose to me. He even bought a ring... but after that, he never mentioned it again."

Maxwell raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Then he’s probably waiting for the perfect moment. Since you already know about the ring, he’s probably waiting for the right moment. He wants the proposal to feel like a surprise again. That’s just how Teo is."

"Okay," Adrian murmured, a fond, determined smile spreading across his face. "Then I need to start looking for a ring. I want to find something really beautiful for my baby."

Maxwell burst into laughter, shaking his head. "God, you’re so hopelessly in love."

Adrian lifted his chin proudly. "I am," he admitted without hesitation. "And your brother is just as hopelessly in love with me, so I’d say we’re even."

Maxwell could only shake his head with an amused smile, letting out a quiet laugh.

For the next few minutes, a comfortable silence settled over the living room, broken only by the soft murmur of the television playing in the background.

Then, without warning, the mood shifted.

Maxwell cleared his throat, the playful smile fading from his face. His expression turned serious as he met Adrian’s eyes.

"Adrian..." he said quietly. "There’s something important I need to ask you. I need a favor."

Adrian sat up straighter on the sofa, instantly alert as he met Maxwell’s serious eyes. "What is it? What’s wrong?"

Maxwell hesitated for a second, rubbing the back of his neck as if struggling to find the right words. "Look... I know I probably shouldn’t be bringing this up to you, especially given how things are between Matteo and our mother, but I’m completely out of options."

He let out a heavy breath, his gaze fixed on Adrian. "I need you to talk to Teo for me. Please convince him to meet with our mother. I just want them to sit down together, face-to-face, and have an honest conversation. Maybe then they can finally settle everything once and for all."

Adrian blinked, caught off guard by the request. He frowned slightly, uncertainty settling over his face. "I... I don’t know if I can make Matteo agree," he admitted honestly. "He doesn’t even want to have that conversation. Every time your mother’s name comes up, he shuts it down immediately."

Adrian paused before asking carefully,

"And... are you sure your mother wants this too? Do you really think she’s ready to meet Matteo face-to-face after everything that’s happened?"

"Yes," Maxwell replied without hesitation, his voice heavy with quiet desperation. "I know she wants it too. She’d be happy to meet Teo, even if she’s never actually said it out loud. She’s stubborn... just like Teo. Neither of them will admit how they really feel, but I know them. Deep down, I believe they both want to see each other again. They just don’t know how to take the first step."

Maxwell leaned forward, clasping his hands tightly together as he pleaded. "Adrian, please... you’re the only person he truly listens to. If anyone can get through to him, if anyone can convince him to give our mother just five minutes of his time, it’s you. Please... help us."

Adrian held his gaze for a long moment, a soft sigh slipping past his lips. "I’ll try my best, Maxwell. I really hope he listens to me."

A wave of immense relief washed over Maxwell’s face. "Thank you, Adrian. Truly."

Adrian offered him a reassuring smile. "You don’t have to thank me yet. Let’s just hope everything works out."

With the difficult conversation finally coming to an end, Adrian excused himself and made his way upstairs to their bedroom.

Once inside the quiet sanctuary of their room, his thoughts began to race. Maxwell’s plea echoed over and over in his mind. He couldn’t stop thinking about Matteo, about the pain he had carried for years, and about how difficult it would be to ask him to face his mother again.

Adrian slowly walked toward the window and stared out at the sky.

Then another thought crossed his mind.

If he was asking Matteo to find the courage to face his past... shouldn’t he do the same?

His thoughts drifted to his own father.

It had been so long since they had truly faced each other. There were still wounds that had never fully healed, words that had never been spoken, and questions that had never been answered.

He thought about the future he and Matteo were building together. One day, they would have children of their own. He wanted those children to grow up surrounded by love, to know their grandparents, and to experience the warmth of a complete family instead of inheriting years of unresolved resentment.

If they kept running from the past, when would either of them ever find the courage to move forward?

Adrian drew a slow breath, a quiet determination settling deep within him.

He had made up his mind.

He would talk to Matteo about meeting his mother.

And when the time came...

He would face his own father as well.

The rest of the day passed quietly, and before long, night settled over the estate.

When Matteo arrived back at the estate later that evening, Adrian was already waiting for him in their bedroom, greeting him with a warm, comforting smile just like every other evening. After Matteo washed away the dust of another long day at the office, they headed downstairs together to enjoy a quiet, intimate dinner.

Once they had finished eating, Adrian excused himself a little early and slipped back upstairs to their bedroom, leaving Matteo downstairs to catch up with Maxwell.

Not long afterward, the bedroom door clicked open, and Matteo stepped inside.

Adrian was lying comfortably against the pillows, scrolling through his phone. The moment Matteo walked into the room, Adrian set his phone aside and sat up.

Matteo climbed onto the bed beside him, slipping an arm around Adrian’s waist and pulling him snugly against his chest. Adrian readily wrapped his arms around Matteo’s neck, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne.

Resting his head on Adrian’s shoulder, Matteo let out a long, exhausted sigh.

"Today was absolute hell, baby."