All Chapters of Gold & Sand: Chapter 221 - Chapter 230

Clark woke up to a weight against his back. At first, it barely registered—just warmth, skin against skin, the rough scratch of stubble against his shoulder. Then, hands. A firm grip dragging down his waist, fingers digging in with possession rather than affection. Clark stiffened.  “Morning, sweetheart,” the man behind him murmured, voice thick with sleep, lazy and satisfied. His teeth skimmed the shell of Clark’s ear. “How ‘bout a morning round?” Clark’s eyes snapped open. `Fucking hell. ´He was too hungover for this. He pushed back, dislodging the man’s hands. “Yeah, no. Get out.” The guy didn’t move. Didn’t even hesitate. Instead, he chuckled, slow and deep, tightening his grip. “Aww, don’t be like that. You were real into it last night.” 

 The elevator hummed softly as it jolted back to life. The sudden return of motion sent a flicker of relief through Adam, but his focus wasn’t on the elevator anymore.The lights flickered once, then stabilized. The number panel above the door blinked. 10. 9.Ding.The doors slid open at the ninth floor.Clark moved before Adam could register it. A sharp breath, a quick motion—he reached for the emergency stop button and pressed it.The elevator jerked. Stopped. The doors, obediently waiting, remained open, revealing the quiet, dimly lit hallway of the ninth floor. Clark stepped out.Not hurried, not frantic—but decisive. Like someone who had made up their mind and would not be convinced otherwise. Adam watched him, not moving at first. Then he sighed, let the doors slide wider, and stepped out behind him. He didn’t say anything

Adam stepped into the café, the scent of freshly ground coffee and something sweet hanging in the air. His sharp eyes swept the place, spotting them immediately. Matthew, sprawled across the seat like he owned the place, one arm lazily draped over Masahiro’s shoulder, fingers idly tracing circles on his wrist. The contrast between the two was almost comical—Masahiro sat stiff, composed, his crisp white dress shirt neatly tucked, tie in place, an air of authority surrounding him even in a casual setting. Matthew, on the other hand, exuded nothing but comfort—shirt slightly unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, smirking at whatever Masahiro wasn’t reacting to. Adam snorted to himself and made his way over. The moment Matthew noticed him, his grin widened. “Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite gangster turned babysitter,” Matthew teased, gesturing to the seat across from them. “Come, sit.

Clark paced the length of his living room, one hand adjusting his cufflinks, the other dragging through his hair for the tenth time.The suit was perfect. Bespoke. Tailored to every inch of him. Midnight blue, a shade that clung to his frame just right, structured shoulders accentuating his elegant silhouette. The crisp white dress shirt beneath was buttoned up just enough to be respectable but left a teasing gap at his collarbone.His hair was freshly cut, styled with a precise part and a slight wave—meticulous, controlled, sharp. He smelled like money, class, and the kind of danger that whispered instead of shouted.And yet— He was waiting.For him.Clark clicked his tongue, checking his watch for the fifth time in the last ten minutes.Forty-five minutes late.Adam was forty-five minutes late.Clark clenched his jaw, adjusting his sleeves again, then exhaled slowly, pushing down the irritation threatening to bubble over.He was only going to this stupid party for the sake of his pr

The meal was decent.Clark had barely tasted it, too busy keeping his posture sharp, his expression unreadable. Adam, on the other hand, ate like a man who didn’t give a shit about the room full of rich people side-eyeing them.Clark had expected whispers, lingering stares—but the real fun started when Nicholas Sinclair, Emery’s fiancé, finally made his way over."Clark," Nicholas greeted smoothly, wine glass in hand, a carefully measured smile tugging at his lips. "I’m so glad you could make it."Clark forced a polite smirk, barely looking up from his plate. `Fuck off, Nicholas.’Adam, still chewing, barely glanced at the man."Nicholas." Clark set his glass down. "Congratulations."Nicholas gave a gracious chuckle, full of fake modesty. "Oh, thank you, really. It’s a new chapter, isn’t it?"Clark resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Nicholas was gloating.And then—he turned to Adam.Clark tensed."I don’t believe we’ve met," Nicholas said