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Chapter 85
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2025-01-05 10:30:23Masahiro unlocked the door to the apartment and stepped inside, the weight of the day pressing heavily on his shoulders. His usually calm expression was marred by frustration, his movements brisk as he kicked off his shoes and tossed his jacket onto the nearest chair.
From the couch, Matthew, sprawled in his usual lazy fashion with Clyde perched on his lap, glanced up with a smirk. “Rough day?” he teased, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You look like someone just stole your donuts.”Masahiro shot him a glare but didn’t respond immediately, heading straight for the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water.Then he finally spoke, his tone clipped. “Just a lot of work. Nothing special.”Matthew raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Work, huh?” He pointed toward the muted television, where a reporter gestured animatedly outside the facility Masahiro had just left. “Saw the press conference. Something happen?”Masahiro hesitated for jus
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Gold & Sand Chapter 86
The soft rustle of sheets stirred Matthew awake. He groaned, his face buried into the pillow as he tried to ignore the faint light filtering through the blinds. It wasn’t the sun, though, that had disturbed him… it was the weight of a familiar hand trailing up his back, fingers lingering like they had no business being so gentle.“Morning,” Masahiro’s voice was soft, coaxing, the kind of tone Matthew had learned to mistrust.“Whatever it is, the answer’s no,” Matthew mumbled into the pillow. He turned his head just enough to glare over his shoulder, finding Masahiro propped on one elbow, his dark eyes focused entirely on him.Masahiro didn’t reply, not with words. Instead, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to Matthew’s shoulder, slow and deliberate.Matthew groaned again, louder this time, but it lacked conviction. “You’re like a needy dog, you know that? Path
Last Updated : 2025-01-05Gold & Sand Chapter 87
Matthew lay sprawled on the bed like a defeated gladiator after a particularly brutal battle. His arms flopped to the sides, and his head lolled dramatically as he sighed, long and heavy. “I think you’ve killed me,” he declared. Masahiro, still perched on top of him, leaned down to kiss his forehead. “You’re fine,” he said, far too smug for Matthew’s taste. “I’m not fine,” Matthew shot back, his voice rising theatrically. “My body is broken. My soul is broken. If I even attempt to stand, I’ll probably collapse and die right here. Then what will you do? Huh? Do you have a plan for that?” Masahiro tilted his head, considering this while tracing lazy circles on Matthew’s chest. “I’d probably bury you in the backyard,” he said with a faint grin. “Less paperwork that way.” “You’re a monster,” Matthew deadpanned, glaring up at him. “And yet,” Masahiro whispered, his lips brushing against Matthew’s ear, “you always let me in.” Mat
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Gold & Sand Chapter 88
Masahiro parked the car in front of a small, cozy café, the sun barely peeking through the early morning clouds. He looked over at Matthew, who had loosened his seatbelt and settled back, sunglasses covering his eyes and arms crossed in an all-too-familiar, dramatic pose.“What do you want?” Masahiro asked, eyes on the road but curious about Matthew’s usual morning request.Matthew didn’t even bother opening his eyes, his tone lazy and mocking. “A croissant, something with berries, maybe a Danish. And a hot chocolate. Make sure it's extra thick. Not that watered-down stuff you usually get me."Masahiro smirked, already thinking about how much Matthew liked the ridiculous things he ordered for breakfast. “Alright, I’ll grab your ‘delicacies.’”He got out, leaving Matthew lounging in the passenger seat, still looking like he belonged in a movie about troubled, sunshiny mornings.Insid
Last Updated : 2025-01-06Gold & Sand Chapter 89
Masahiro didn’t flinch, his tone remaining calm. "It wasn’t on purpose. I’m sorry.""Are you kidding me?" Matthew hissed, grabbing napkins, and frantically wiping the stain. "Do you have another copy?"Masahiro’s gaze dropped to the floor. "No…"Matthew stood abruptly, anger flashing in his eyes. "I’m going to kill you!"Masahiro met his gaze with a sarcastic smirk. "I’d like to see you try."Before the situation could escalate further, the door swung open, and Lewis, stepped into the room."Hey, hey, what's going on here?" Lewis asked, taking in the scene—Matthew standing, furious, while Masahiro leaned against the table, a smug look on his face."This idiot spilled coffee on my paperwork," Matthew said, pointing accusingly at Masahiro.Lewis shook his head, approaching the table. "That’s bad," he muttered, inspecting the damage.Matthew shot Masahiro a look. "I&rsq
Last Updated : 2025-01-07Gold & Sand Chapter 90
Masahiro stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him as he carried a three pizza boxes and a six-pack of beer cans in his arms. The smell of fresh pizza filled the room, but Matthew’s eyes were the only thing he could focus on as he entered.Matthew was lounging on the sofa, his eyes narrowed in that signature sarcastic way. He didn’t even look up at Masahiro as he spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. "What? What are we celebrating? The ruined paperwork?" The sarcasm was thick, slicing through the air like a knife.Masahiro raised an eyebrow and approached the coffee table, placing the boxes down with a soft thud. "You’re still upset because of that?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his tone.Matthew didn’t answer him. Instead, he just ignored Masahiro entirely, keeping his gaze fixed ahead as if the world around him had ceased to exist for a moment.Masahiro, never one to back down, reached out, trying to close the gap b
Last Updated : 2025-01-07Gold & Sand Chapter 91
David stood at the door, his imposing figure blocking the dim light spilling into the room. The gun in his hand gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and the way he held it… steady, deliberate… sent a chill down Matthew’s spine."Matthew Smith," David's voice was low, almost a growl, each syllable laced with contempt. "You think you can walk away from this unscathed?"Matthew stumbled back, eyes blazing, but his voice was sharp, cutting. “Breaking and entering, Jones? Didn’t peg you as the type to go off-book.”David didn’t answer. Instead, he swung the butt of his gun with brutal precision, crashing it against Matthew’s temple. The blow sent Matthew reeling, his skull splitting with pain as he crumpled to the floor. He gasped for air, struggling to focus, the sharp sting in his head threatening to consume him.David’s hand gripped the collar of Matthew’s shirt, yanking him upright with a force that
Last Updated : 2025-01-08Gold & Sand Chapter 92
Masahiro’s car pulled up to the familiar gate of his apartment complex, the dashboard clock glowing a haunting 2:03 a.m. His thoughts raced as he shifted into park, exhausted but eager to collapse back into bed beside Matthew. That brief reprieve vanished the moment he glanced toward the security guard’s station.Darkness. No lights. Not even the faintest flicker from the small desk lamp that should have been on.Masahiro squinted through the windshield. Something was off. The guard was always vigilant, always there to nod at him or flash a casual wave. Tonight? Nothing. He scanned the area again, his gaze settling on the shadowy shape crumpled on the pavement near the station.His breath hitched. A body.“No, no, no…” Masahiro muttered under his breath as he yanked the door open and ran to the lifeless form. His shoes scraped against the pavement as he crouched down, hands trembling as he reached out.The guard&rsquo
Last Updated : 2025-01-08Gold & Sand Chapter 93
Masahiro woke up with a start, his head heavy and his body aching from the restless night. The events from the early hours weighed on him like a suffocating blanket. He turned his head to the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. Matthew’s side. A surge of irritation bubbled within him. The thought that Matthew might have run away gnawed at his mind. He clenched his jaw and exhaled sharply. He checked the clock on his bedside table; it was almost 10 a.m. He was over three hours late. The realization did nothing to ease his frustration. Sitting up, Masahiro grabbed his phone from the nightstand, his fingers lingering on the hope that there would be some word from Matthew. A message, a missed call, anything. But the screen was devoid of Matthew’s name. Instead, it was filled with multiple missed calls from Lewis. Masahiro sighed deeply, then dialed Lewis back. The line barely rang twice before Lewis answered. “Payne! Good morning. How ar
Last Updated : 2025-01-09
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Gold & Sand Chapter 276
The light through the blinds was thin and grey, slicing across the bed in cold stripes.Adam woke first. Always did.Clark was draped over him like a cat that refused to admit it wanted warmth — face buried near Adam’s shoulder, one hand fisted tight in the front of Adam’s hoodie.Adam stared at the ceiling a beat, jaw tight, before peeling himself away. Clark muttered something in his sleep but didn’t wake, just curled deeper into the stolen hoodie like it was stitched from safety itself. Adam left him there. Gym first. Routine never stopped. By the time Adam came back — sweat cooling under his T-shirt, heart steady — Clark was awake. Barefoot, hair a wreck, and swimming in another one of Adam’s hoodies like he’d been born in it. He padded into the kitchen half-conscious, yawning into his wrist. “Mornin',” Adam muttered, grabbing the coffee pot. Clark just grunted and stole a mug without asking.
Gold & Sand Chapter 275
The apartment door clicked shut behind them.Clark dropped his coat on the entryway bench with an exaggerated sigh and muttered, “I am emotionally exhausted. And not in a sexy, Victorian-tragedy kind of way. I mean in the ‘my feet hurt and my soul’s tired’ kind of way.”Adam, already heading for the kitchen, tossed back, “Then take your heels off, sweetheart.”Clark gave him a long, dry look. “They are Italian leather Oxfords. But yes, thank you, masculine voice of reason.”Adam opened the fridge, grabbed leftover rice, and dumped it unceremoniously into a pan. A beat passed, then the stove clicked to life. Clark wandered in behind him, slower, more graceful, toeing off his shoes like someone doing a product demo.“You’re cooking,” Clark said with a soft note of surprise.“I’m heating shit up.”“For you or for both of us?”Adam didn’t look up. “Depends. You gonna whine the whole time?”Clark leaned against the counter, resting his chin in his hand. “Maybe. Depends. Are you going to be
Gold & Sand Chapter 274
The apartment door shut behind them with a soft click. Masahiro shrugged off his coat and hung it by the door with mechanical efficiency. Matthew kicked his boots off lazily and dropped his keys into the bowl by the counter, same routine as always.Masahiro passed him in the hallway, unbothered. "I’m showering."Matthew nodded, grabbed a soda from the fridge, cracked it open. Silence stretched while the water started running. When Masahiro emerged ten minutes later, hair damp and towel slung around his neck, Matthew was still at the counter, drinking slowly.“We gonna talk about it?” Matthew asked without looking up.Masahiro paused, eyes narrowing slightly. “About what.”“Yumi.” Matthew turned now. Arms folded. Voice calm, but not playful. “How she thinks I sleep in your guest room because of some old undercover job we did. And you let her think that. Still.”Masahiro dried his hands with the towel, avoiding his eyes. “It’s easier.”“Easier for who?”Masahiro didn’t answer.Matthew
Gold & Sand Chapter 273
The restaurant doors swung shut behind them, sealing in the scent of roasted garlic and expensive regret. The parking lot buzzed with leftover heat from the day, a few stray voices in the distance, heels clicking on pavement.Clark walked ahead with Masahiro, steps crisp, back straight, his fingers adjusting his sleeves as if court decorum extended into the streets. Masahiro matched his pace effortlessly—hands tucked into his coat pockets, eyes cold and precise as always."So," Masahiro said without looking at him, "how do you see the trial ending?"Clark didn’t hesitate. "Nathaniel will walk. Probably with a statement read by a trembling clerk and a jury that wants to forget the word 'testimony' for the rest of their lives."Masahiro gave a slow nod. "You're confident.""I'm always confident," Clark replied, the corner of his mouth twitching. "The difference is whether I admit it out loud."Masahiro’s eyes flicked to him, a hint of dry amusement. "You just did."Clark adjusted his gl
Gold & Sand Chapter 272
Matthew didn’t wait for an invitation—just dropped into the chair across from Clark like he owned it.Masahiro sat beside him with all the enthusiasm of a man attending a funeral, pulling out his phone before the chair even touched the floor.Matthew grinned, eyes on Clark. “You two are cute. The bodyguard act? Adorable. But let’s not pretend you’re not fucking like a side plot to a very illegal soap opera.”Clark, unbothered, lifted his wineglass with practiced elegance. “And you’re talking like a man who’s only slept with criminals and delusions.”Matthew’s grin widened. “Facts.”Adam didn’t look up. Just kept eating his burger like nothing in the room concerned him.“Adam’s real quiet today,” Matthew added, leaning his chin on his palm. “All those hickeys drain your vocabulary?”Clark sliced a piece of venison with clean, silent precision. “Some of us have class. Others… wear too much cologne and overshare.”Masahiro didn’t even glance up. “Don’t e
Gold & Sand Chapter 271
The trial day had ended with the defense soaring and the prosecution bleeding.Masahiro, Arthur, and Matthew stood in the hallway, a loose cluster of tension and exhaustion. Arthur clutched a half-empty water bottle, his fingers still shaking from the witness stand. Masahiro stood tall and unreadable, as always.Matthew looked like he’d just come out of a concert—buzzing, amused, and entirely too observant.Clark approached with that predator-still-in-courtroom calm, suit untouched, expression cool. Adam was behind him, one step back, hands in his pockets, saying nothing—like always.“Hell of a show,” Matthew said as Clark joined them. “You made that prosecutor look like she was reciting a grocery list under threat.”Clark only lifted a brow. “She wasn’t worth more than that.”Masahiro gave a nod. “Strong performance.”Arthur murmured, “Nathaniel might actually walk…”Clark nodded slightly. “Let’s not jinx it.”They stood there for a beat.The
Gold & Sand Chapter 270
The door shut behind them with a soft, echoing click.Clark didn’t speak. Neither did Nathaniel.For a long moment, they just stood there in the defense room—alone, away from the murmuring gallery and the jury’s blank stares.Clark finally moved.He set his notes down on the table, reached up, and took off his glasses. Not dramatically. Just… tired.His fingers pressed to the bridge of his nose like he could squeeze the tension out through his skull.Nathaniel watched him.Still in his seat. Back straight. Calm in the way someone learns from spending time around chaos.“You didn’t have to say all that,” Nathaniel said quietly.Clark dropped his hand. Didn’t look at him yet. “Yeah, well. I did.”“You made me sound like a hero.”Clark finally glanced up. The fatigue didn’t soften his tone. “No. I made you sound like a man who didn’t fire a gun.”Nathaniel gave a small, humorless laugh. “Still a lie.”Clark sat down slowly across from
Gold & Sand Chapter 269
The courtroom felt colder.Not physically—just… off.Like every breath Clark took was being measured in decibels.Like the walls were closer.The gallery buzzed with quiet anticipation—reporters in tailored neutral, pens ready to cut. Matthew sat on the far end, half-scowling. Arthur hovered near Masahiro, face unreadable.Nathaniel sat beside Clark—still, calm, like he didn’t feel the pressure digging into the back of his spine.And Clark?Perfect.Tie sharp. Glasses gleaming. Posture textbook.Only Adam saw the truth.His tie was straight, but his breath was shallow. That wasn’t confidence. That was survival.Adam watched from the last bench, arms folded.Motionless. But primed.At the front of the courtroom, Diana Halvorsen stood like she’d built the place.Flawless blonde hair, heels like blades, voice clear as verdicts.She turned to the jury with clinical poise.“Let’s talk about narrative.”“You want to paint Bishop as a savior’s assistant?” she asked, voice smooth. “Then tell
Gold & Sand Chapter 268
Arthur sat at his desk, staring at the clock.3:59 PM.He shifted in his chair. Cleared his throat. Glanced at the file in front of him, then at Masahiro—just across the room, seated, silent, flipping through a thick report with surgical focus.Arthur hesitated.Then looked again.Masahiro didn’t look up. Not immediately. Just turned another page with that same eerie calm.Then, without raising his voice or his head, he said, “I know exactly what you want.”Arthur straightened. “I—uh—what?”Masahiro looked at him now. Direct. Sharp. “You want to visit Cassidy.”Arthur’s ears burned. “Sir, I was going to—”“You’re allowed,” Masahiro interrupted. “Go.”Arthur blinked. “Really?”Masahiro returned to his file. “You’ll be back before shift ends.”Arthur nodded quickly, standing. “Yes. Thank you, sir.”Masahiro said nothing more.Arthur cleaned his desk—neatly, as always—then grabbed his coat and bag. He moved quickly but tried n
