Matthew's POV
The moment I stepped into the room, my eyes immediately landed on him. Adrian Throne. The son of a bitch I so much detest. He sat there, drinking and talking to this lady. She seemed as cheap as her make-up as she smiled at him cheekily. Why are all ladies like this? Why do they like men whom they are sure will break their hearts? I clenched my teeth at that thought. Anger boiled in me and the next second I was already landing a punch on his face. The sound of my fist on his face was great, but the greater impact was when the glass he held on fell on the floor and shattered. "You son of a bitch!" I yelled as I kept on punching him. Ready to spoil his so-called handsome face. It's unlike me doing this, but I couldn't help. "What are you doing? Stop" The lady kept shouting in nothing but fear, this little scene caused a lot of commotion. But I didn't care. I hate this bastard with everything in me. Of all the men in this world, it was him...dad chose to marry Evelyn off too. Of all the men. Men rushed over and yanked me away. I retaliated and reached for him again but they caught me before I could get to him. "Why must it be you?" I yelled as they dragged me out of the club. I wish I could do more, I wish I could make him regret everything he's done to me. And even if it delays now, I know I will do it next time. They let go of me when we were finally outside. I tried to force my way in but one of the guards warned "We won't want to be rude but you are no longer allowed to come in!" I should have resisted but he was so big, not like I was any small but of course, I knew my match when I saw one and Adrian is nothing like me. That's why I was able to smack his face without him trying. I turned on my heels, irritation flushed through me. I'm not done with him yet. I will make his life a living hell and he will be the one to give up everything and reject my sister. What the fuck does he think he is? As much as he thinkd he's the most handsome, I'm glad my sister didn't fall for that bullshit facade. I got on my bike. It didn't take me long to get to los Angeles nightclub. The moment I got in, I spotted my friends sited around a table talking and laughing. Noah waved at me smiling. That was an invitation but I didn't need one. I snatched his glass of whiskey and immediately gulped it down. "Hey, man, that was mine," he complained. I didn't spare him a glance and quickly poured myself some more whiskey. I was irritated and only drinking helped. "What's wrong with him?" Jordan asked. "Whatever the fuck is wrong, it's probably fucking him up" Kyle's words died when our gaze met. He gulped in fear. "Shit! He's in that mood again " Jordan let out a sigh and leaned close. "Is it related to Mr Thorne?" I growled and that was enough for them to know. "Crap, when is this ever going to end? You are an adult now, why can't you look past everything?" Noah's words made me almost believe he wasn't my friend, that a ghost was now inhabiting his body. "What? I'm trying to be rational here...you two keep picking on each other like you used to back in college. When will you grow up?" I slammed the glass on the table, Noah shivered and pulled away. "Never!" I growled. If growing up means letting that bastard get into my family, then I'd rather not. "Why?" Kyle pressed on, I faced him. Silence engulfed the sound of the music in the club. Why couldn't I let go? There were so many reasons. First, that bastard snatched my girlfriend from me only to break her heart. Secondly, he is the son of a bitch my father has chosen to marry my sister off, of all people. "Don't tell me it's because of what happened back then, with Lily?" Jordan pointed out I gritted my teeth, This time, I grabbed the entire bottle of whiskey and began tanking it like water. "Damn Matthew, when will you ever give this up?" "When I've finally exact my revenge " I growled. "And here we go again, revenge, revenge revenge, when will you grow up and see that life isn't all about the past? Your life isn't all about Adrian man" Noah complained. "Seems like it is" my response was dull. "In what way?" Kyle seems to want to figure me out and that, I have no problem with. "That son of a bitch is the one to marry my sister" I blurt. "Holy moly!!!!!" They all exclaimed as if it was planned. "You can't be serious, yeah?" Jordan stared at me as if I was telling a lie. "I wouldn't be this frustrated if it wasn't" I drank more, trying to push away everything but they kept coming. "Do you all think I don't want to move on? Have a life and let go of everything that bastard has done to me? I badly want to, but, he always have a way to scrawl back to my skin and that irritates the fuck out of me" "This is bad!" Noah muttered. I couldn't agree any less as I nodded while drinking. "Wait, you mean Evelyn?" What I said seem to dawn to Kyle only now but what the fuck was he saying? I have only one sister and who the fuck would it be if not Evelyn? "You are damn annoying, you know that?" I was at the edge of my frustration. I needed some help, I needed saving. "What are you going to do about?" Jordan asked. "I need to make that mother fucker turn down his marriage proposal, but I don't know how to" "Got a plan?" Kyle muttered, fully interested. I shook my head in denial. I really have no fucking plan A talkless of B. Silence enveloped us again as the music stopped playing. When I looked up, I saw Jordan smiling. "What?" I don't know what's funny, if it's me or the bullshit situation I'm in. "You are Bi, yeah?" He raised a brow. I frowned, "and what does that has to do with the situation?" His smile widened. "I don't know how well this is, but if we can find out where he is, we can drug him and" he paused. "Kill him?" I asked, "that will be the stupidest plan ever, remember he isn't just an ordinary man" "Calm down and hear me out, I never said we should kill him" Jordan waved. "When we get him drugged, he'll be all yours to torture " My frown deepened, I couldn't figure out what the hell he was saying. "I'm not fucking him if that's what you mean and when I said I would ask Bisexual, I lied" Really? Sleep with that asshole? I can't. I've never done it before. Whatever I said back then was a lie, just go show my friend I am capable of doing things. "Don't be dumb....we all know how bad a sex tape can ruin one's reputation....if we can make one, then, we will use that to blackmail him into canceling the marriage " Jordan's complete explanation now made lots of sense. "It's either you get smart and challenge yourself or you sit down here and drink yourself to sleep while that dushbag get your sister!" Jordan's words hits me differently. I've never done it, but I can't just seat and do nothing. And if doing this will safe the day, then why can't I do it? I inhaled deeply, trying to get myself to agree on this. They all seem willing to help me. If I can man up, then this wouldn't be hard. Not like I'm that clueless on what to do, I can do it. I encourage myself inwardly. At that moment, I knew I wasn't alone. My friends are with me. I glanced at the three guys I've known for what seems like forever, and my heart warmed up knowing they are happy to help me. My lips widened into a smile, I nodded. "I know where he is" "Then that's great, we can act now than later" I finally let go of the bottle of whiskey, together, we left the club.Matthew's POV "I can't go in," I said to my friend's dismay."Why can't you?" Kyle asked, he had this look that demanded me to explain myself."I was here not long ago and I created a scene when I saw..." I clenched my teeth, irritation and anger boiled in me as I thought about that bastard."They won't let me in, most especially that big head guard" I bobbed my head to where the guard who warned me was standing."You can't be so sure" Jordan adjusted his dress and walked up to the two guards at the door.He greeted them so cheerfully like they've known each other for some time. They seemed to be discussing for a while before Jordan turned to us and waved for us to come forward."You should behave this time," The guard warned me.I gave a half shrug and nodded before he turned his attention back to Jordan."Keep an eye on your friend, cause the least commotion I will hear because of him will definitely be the end of him" Jordan smiled, "I've got him, trust me" He threw his hand ove
Matthew's POV I let Adrain fall on the couch like a bag of rice and went for the door and locked it. When I was sure it was well locked and no one could come in, I turned back to him.A smile tugged on my lips as I watched him all helpless and defenseless before me."Never thought you'd imagine this day" a smirk plastered on my lips. This day, I will forever hold in mind.The day I ruined the great Adrain Throne and reduced him to nothing."Today, you will scream and beg me to go easy on you but you know what? I won't...I will do exactly what you did to Lily, I will break you in the hardest and roughest way and you, will be at my mercy"My friends weren't the only ones that had plans, I did too. I pulled out a herb from my jacket, I was told it helped to stimulate sexual urges. Some people call it aphrodisiac incense but whatever the name is, I want nothing but a result.I placed it on a cigarette plate, brought out my lighter and lit it. The smoke was small at first but as it burne
Matthew's POV It felt like a new beginning, as I stretched out my hands yawning at the now fresh bright morning staring at me. Last night was a tug of war and I'm sure I did complete my mission.My eyes snapped open at that thought, I jumped out of the bed only to cry in pain. My butt hurts, like...Damnit! What just happened?I couldn't believe anything, whatever my mind was telling me. It can't be me right? It's him.It's supposed to be Adrain feeling this pain, not me. I was the one to do all these things to him.Then, the memories of last night came flooding my head, he's got me. Just right where he was supposed to be but it just didn't work as planned. That bastard always has to win in the end. It's a shame how many times I've been trying to get him to beg for my mercy only for me to end up begging.On the bed where we knew clothes. I'm sure he much have kept them for me but fuck him, I won't wear it.I forced myself to walk, I grabbed my clothes on the floor only to see how t
Matthew's POV I hated the way Adrian looked at me, that irritating smirk on his face making me want to punch it away.With gritted teeth, I rolled my eyes at him and turned to face my dad."What’s so serious about what you want to talk to me about?" I paused before adding, "You’ve never been one to involve me in your business.""This isn’t my business, Matthew," Dad growled.I gave him a half-shrug. There was nothing he could say to convince me otherwise. All of this was his business—it benefited no one but him."This is about our family and—" He stopped, cutting himself off before he could say something that might expose him.Letting out a heavy sigh, his voice softened."There’s a problem."I frowned, confusion and unease building inside me."Mr. Adrian can’t marry your sister anymore."That was what he called a problem? This was good news. Something worth celebrating.My heart pounded with excitement. This—this was the best news I’d had so far. Did this mean my efforts had finally
"You should have been working beside me, but I guess I'll find someone else," he said, turning to face me. His expression was cold, unreadable. "When I discovered what your slutty sister did, I feared everything I had built—everything I planned—had crumbled. But then, surprisingly, Adrian seemed interested in you."He paused, studying me with mild amusement."I wonder why he saw you," he mused. "But whatever the case, I'm glad the deal is still on. And you, my son, will take your sister’s place.""No," I interjected, my voice shaking but firm. "Never. I won’t do it, Dad. I won’t be what you want me to be."I forced myself off the floor, my body aching from the weight of his expectations."I'm not my sister. I don’t cower in fear or cry my eyes out. I am a man, and I will defend myself from you. I won’t marry that devil, and I won’t let you, a greedy bastard, dictate my life!" The words rushed out, sharp and unfiltered. "And if you think you've done enough for me, then stop. I’ll pay y
There was no mercy in his eyes, no warmth—only the cold satisfaction of a man reveling in his own success."Stop. I'll do it." The words left me like a jagged lump forced from my throat, scraping and cutting on their way out.Was this what I wanted? To be his puppet, his stepping stone to greatness? No.But what choice did I have?I glanced at my sister—her fragile frame slumped in the chair, her wrists raw from the restraints, her skin sickly pale under the dim light. Even unconscious, she looked like she was in pain, her face twisted in a silent nightmare she couldn't escape. And maybe she never would.If I didn't act now, the consequences would be irreversible.Saving her cost me everything—my freedom, my peace, my happiness.And yet, if given the choice again, would I do it?Yes.Because if I didn't, no one else would. Because the thought of a world without her—without her stubbornness, her laughter, her constant nagging—was unbearable. I'd rather suffer under my father’s thumb, c
I stood in the middle of the grand yet suffocating room, dressed in a pristine white suit. Ordinarily, I would have admired how well it fit me, how the fabric sat perfectly against my frame, exuding a kind of effortless elegance I usually took pride in. But today wasn’t an ordinary day. Today, nothing felt right.Because today was the day I was getting engaged to that bastard, Adrian.The very engagement I had fought to free my sister from had now become my own personal prison. No, not just a prison—a pit. A deep, dark abyss where my fate had been sealed, and there was no escaping it. My heart pounded against my ribcage, a relentless hammering that made my breath come short and uneven. I wasn't forced into this, not physically. No one held a gun to my head or dragged me here against my will. But was it truly free will when the alternative was unthinkable? When a single refusal could cost me someone I loved?From the left corner of the room, my father stood, watching me. Smiling. Like
“What?” I blurted, confusion slamming into me like a freight train, knocking the air from my lungs.My father’s hand clamped down on my shoulder, his fingers digging in like claws, sharp and unyielding. He twisted, his grip merciless, sending a sharp jolt of pain through my body. I bit back a whimper, forcing it down my throat, but he heard it—he always did. A slow smirk curled at the edges of his lips, satisfaction gleaming in his cold eyes. He relished this. The reminder that he owned me.“You know how kids are these days.” He let out a dry, humorless laugh, his grip tightening just enough to drive his point home. A warning. His fingers pressed against bone, his nails biting into my skin. Behave.I kept my expression blank, refusing to let him see how hard my heart pounded against my ribs. This wasn’t part of the deal. I was supposed to get engaged in my sister’s place—not be forced to move in with my mortal enemy.A thick silence wrapped around the room, the tension nearly suffocat
Matthew's POV Adrian sank heavily onto the couch, his breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps, his eyes already burning with a hunger that eclipsed everything else. It wasn’t just desire—it was something darker, something primal. And I could feel it, too, swirling inside me, pulling me toward him like gravity. I followed his lead, my legs slipping around his waist as I straddled him, the heat of his body colliding with mine in a rush that set every nerve on fire. Our bodies slammed together like two storms, tearing through each other, both of us desperate to be pulled apart and stitched back together in a single, violent union.There was no room for hesitation. No time for restraint. Our lips crashed together, urgently, demanding, a collision of fire and needed to obliterate everything else. The outside world vanished in that instant, leaving only the raw, undeniable truth: nothing mattered but this, nothing could ever matter more.We kissed like the earth was ending. Like the world had
I no longer cared about the world outside that room—or the chaos clawing at the back of my mind, screaming for attention like a neglected child. Let it scream. Let it howl. Its voice was a distant echo now, fading into irrelevance. I used to live in that noise. I used to drown in it, second-guessing every impulsive choice, every reckless breath that felt too wild, too fast, too dangerous to be mine. I used to ask myself if I was spiraling.But not anymore.Tonight, I didn’t need clarity. I didn’t want a reason.I wanted this.I wanted him.The air between us pulsed with something raw, something unspoken and untamed. The dim lighting draped the room in golden shadows, blurring the harshness of our sins until they almost looked beautiful. His mouth found mine like it was always meant to—urgent, rough, aching. There was no grace in our kiss, no gentle prelude. It was a collision. Violent. Unapologetic. It tasted like desperation and heat and a thousand broken promises we didn't care to f
Matthew's POV "You misjudged us," Lily said all of a sudden, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. I frowned, thrown off completely.I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I might be gay—or at least not straight. Whatever label I was supposed to wear, I wasn’t ready for it. And now here she was, throwing in another curveball that only tangled up my already twisted thoughts."Just like you, I too am in a state of dilemma," she said, pausing for a breath, her eyes flickering with something soft—regret, maybe. "I wasn't sure at first, but after kissing Adrian... and then kissing you... I'm more than certain now."She swallowed, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth."I like her."My frown deepened. The hell is she talking about? And like who?"Jennie, you slow wink... don't get all worked up," she teased.Then it hit me.Realization crashed into me like a wave slapping across the face. My eyes widened, and I blinked slowly."You like girls?" I a
The night spun out of control in the most unexpected way. As I lay there, the remnants of our heated passion clung to my mind. It felt surreal—yet deeply satisfying—as if I had crossed a line I never imagined I would. And somehow, I didn’t regret it. Adrian and I had never gone that far. We fought, hurled insults, pushed each other’s buttons—but this? This changed everything. It wasn’t just a kiss or even the raw, uninhibited sex. It was the fact that, for once, I was sober. And I wanted it. That truth slammed into me like a freight train. The feeling felt so unfamiliar. I’d always claimed to be straight. Women have always been my preference. I built my life around that certainty. But in those moments with Adrian, my resolve crumbled, slipping away like sand through my fingers. I didn’t understand it. It wasn’t supposed to happen—especially not like this. But the second his lips touched mine, I craved him with a hunger I couldn’t explain. I remembered how he kissed me—better than
Matthew's POV Confusion struck me like a thunderstorm erupting in the middle of a sunlit afternoon—unexpected, brutal, and relentless. It crashed over me, flooding my sanity, blurring the lines between what I knew and what I thought I knew. One moment, everything made sense. Next, I was drowning in betrayal, every breath harder than the last. My feet refused to move, rooted to the floor like I’d turned to stone. I watched them—Adrian and Lily—wrapped in a moment that should’ve never existed. A living, breathing portrait of everything I feared.His hand brushed hers.So simple. So damning.When Adrian’s gaze collided with mine through the crowd, my lungs clenched, useless. He didn’t look away fast enough to spare me the devastation, nor long enough to explain himself. But even that fraction of a second stole the air from my chest. The world shrank to nothing but the sound of blood roaring in my ears, like a tidal wave crashing inward.He didn't flinch. He didn’t hesitate. He just turn
I wasn’t prepared for the wave of familiarity that crashed over me the moment I stepped into the event hall. It hit hard—like a tide I didn’t see coming. The soft lighting overhead casts a golden hue across the room, making everything feel strangely dreamlike. Faces I hadn’t seen in years filled the space, some aged by time’s quiet touch, others still clinging to the same goofy, untamed energy they wore in high school. The smell of perfume and cologne mingled with the faint scent of polished floors and catered appetizers, adding to the sensory overload.Laughter rang out from various corners, a backdrop to the hum of overlapping conversations and the occasional cheer erupting from those sudden, emotional reunions. It felt surreal—like I had walked into a memory that had been playing on repeat somewhere far back in my mind, and now, suddenly, I was living in it.I stood there, rooted in place, caught off guard by how easily the past had found me. I knew, on paper, that this event was a
I froze mid-step, heart seizing with a sudden, unexpected pang of guilt.It clawed through me out of nowhere—the realization that I hadn’t spoken to any of my friends in what felt like forever. Not just days. Weeks, maybe. Time had blurred together, slipping past while I’d been caught up in my own mess. I hadn’t noticed how far I’d drifted, how silent I’d become. And now, the silence wasn’t just mine—it had infected everything.What if they thought I’d abandoned them? Ignored them on purpose? Worse—what if they were angry? Hurt?A coil of panic tightened in my chest as I snatched my phone from where it lay buried under a twisted mess of sheets and blankets on my unmade bed. The screen lit up harshly, and I squinted at the brightness, blinking against the sting. My thumb moved quickly, muscle memory guiding me straight to the group chat.Silence.A wide, empty silence. Like stepping into a room after a fight—thick, tense, and echoing with unspoken things.Matthew: Group is dead silent.
Matthew's POV As soon as the car came to a halt, Adrian stepped out without a word. The door closed behind him with a dull, final click that seemed to echo louder than it should’ve. I didn’t move. I stayed rooted in place, my gaze fixed blankly on the dashboard, the soft glow of the controls blurring as my thoughts spiraled. My hands lay loosely clasped in my lap, unmoving, almost lifeless. A knot of confusion tightened in my chest, thick and unrelenting.Had I said something wrong? Something that pushed him away?I tried to trace the thread backward, hunting for the moment when the shift occurred—the second his mood had changed, when the air in the car grew colder, heavier. But nothing screamed out. No harsh words. No sarcasm. Nothing but an invisible wall that had suddenly risen between us, silent and immovable.The silence pressed in, heavy and suffocating, like a weighted blanket I hadn’t asked for. It sat on my shoulders, in my lungs, in my bones. My mind looped the last part of
I slid into the car and shut the door behind me, the soft click echoing a little too loudly in the quiet. The atmosphere inside felt... different. Heavy. Stifling, even. My hands fumbled over my lap as I settled into the seat, trying to look composed, but the truth was far from it. The silence between us wasn’t comfortable; it wasn’t the kind you slip into with someone you trust. No—this silence had sharp edges, pressing against my skin, suffocating me inch by inch. On ordinary days, I wouldn’t have given a damn. I’d have cracked a joke, leaned back, and ignored whatever tension lingered in the air. But right now? My heart was beating like a warning drum, and I couldn’t keep my mind from spiraling. A born flirt. A professional heartbreaker. My jaw tightened, the muscle twitching as I stared at him. If he kissed me like that—so deep, so sure, like I was the only one that mattered—how many others had tasted those lips before me? How many girls had been pulled into that orbit only t