Chapter Four

Adrian’s POV

The club was alive.

Not just loud—alive.

Bass-heavy music pounded through the walls, vibrating through the glass in my hand, through my chest, through my bones. The DJ had just switched tracks—something darker, heavier—“After Dark” pulsed through the speakers, the rhythm thick and intoxicating.

Neon lights flashed in violent shades of red and blue, slicing through the dimness. Bodies moved everywhere—grinding, swaying, colliding.

Some danced like they were possessed. B!tches swaying their fncking hips round the long pool across the club.

Some drank like they were trying to forget.

Others…fncking, kissing, even tripping.

Didn’t bother hiding what they were doing. And aside from the DJ's music, the sounds these souls makes were the only greedy part I could even enjoy to myself.

A girl straddled a guy at the far corner, her head thrown back in laughter as his hands roamed freely. Another pair stumbled past our table, barely able to keep their hands off each other. 

Till they landed on a couch slightly opposite us. 

For some seconds, they fncked each other loudly. Until she screams "Babe, am cñmming...fnckk" her voice echoes in pleasure. Great!.

Two ladies at a dark corner, engage in finger fncking their greedy tints.

Closet to them, another guy was seriously sucking on the exposed n!pple of a black b!tch. His friend sits opposite while a girl twerk rides on his lap, both sweating profusely.

Close To the DJ, 3_5 guys were involved with a girl I think could be 18, who cares though. One of the guys bends her over "Dave... ahhh" she moans loudly as he insert his erected cøck into her ass. It vibrated as he spanks it.

My eyes narrowed to another side of the room. Two males were throat fncking life out of each other. I recognize one of them. I'd had a pretty rough night with him two months back. 

Damn, he was pretty good with sucking on cøck. I hate to admit how good he was, way better than Reuben. Shit!.

I hissed.

The air smelled like alcohol, sweat, and something reckless.

Something dangerous.

And right in front of me— was Reuben.

I stole another glance at him. He wasn't watching the scene unlike me. Not with that innocent personality of his. It's really annoying tho.

His fingers were restless, fidgeting with each other, his leg bouncing slightly under the table. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on his skin despite the cool air. I felt hot inside, again. Damn, he looks heavenly hot when sweaty.

Yet, he looked… nervous.

Uneasy.

It had been twenty minutes.

Twenty long, suffocating minutes of silence.

And yet, just before that—

We had kissed.

Not just a kiss.

It had been intense. A familiar one.

Like nothing had changed.

Like everything was still there.

Until he pushed me away.

Very hard.

And said we couldn’t continue.

My jaw tightened at the memory.

Finally, I broke the silence.

“You asked to see me...”

My voice came out low, steady—but inside, I wasn’t calm.

Not even close.

Reuben hesitated.

His lips parted, then closed again. His fingers tightened.

“My parents are worried,” he finally said, as if waiting for me to speak first.

And of course they were.

I already knew his parents will be at risk too.

Because of the video.

It didn’t need to be said.

“Are you worried?” I asked.

The moment the words left my mouth, I hated them.

Hated how much they mattered.

Hated that I cared about the answer.

He looked away.

“I… I don’t know, Adrian,” he muttered. “I just don’t want to tarnish my family’s image. This… this is all a mistake.”

A mistake.

I turned my head slowly, staring at him.

“You don’t know?” I repeated, my voice sharper now. “Tarnish your family’s image?”

I leaned forward slightly, my eyes locking onto his.

“Then what about us?”

Silence.

“I thought we had something,” I continued, my voice dropping, tighter now. “Something real. Something strong… that night.” he just stared, his eyes fixed on mine.

I let out a bitter breath. Turning away now.

“Seems like I was the only one who felt anything.”

A curse slipped under my breath, frustration boiling over.

That got his attention.

He looked at me.

Really looked at me this time.

And for a second—just a second—I thought he’d say something different.

Something that would fix this.

But he didn’t.

“I’m sorry, Adrian,” he said quietly. “But until you find whoever did this… until you clear this mess—”

He paused.

Then finished it.

“I’m ending whatever we had.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

Before I could react, he stood up.

Like it was that easy.

Like walking away meant nothing.

I reached out immediately, grabbing his hand.

“I can fix this, Ben,” I said quickly, the desperation slipping through before I could stop it. “Please… don’t leave me.”

My grip tightened slightly.

“Do you even know how long it took you to let me in?” I added, my voice becoming rough now. “A whole year… and now you just—what? Walk away?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Just looked at me.

Then slowly…

He pulled his hand out of mine.

And walked away, paving his way through the masses of clubbers.

Just like that.

He was gone.

As I sat there for a moment, still.

Then I leaned back, grabbing my drink and taking a slow sip.

The cold bitterness did nothing to cool the anger rising inside me.

My jaw clenched as I bit down on an ice cube, crushing it between my teeth. My humor state totally making me to feel the cold or achiness from the ice cube.

“Whoever caused this…” I muttered under my breath, my voice dark.

“…just signed their own doom.”

---

By the time I got home, the silence felt heavier than the club ever did.

I had just stepped onto the stairs when her voice cut through the house.

“You dare leave the chapel yet again!”

I froze mid-step.

Of course.

I let out a breath, already irritated as I turned around.

“God, Mom… we’re not doing this right now, are we?”

She stepped forward slightly, her expression sharp.

“Seems like you couldn’t find a solution,” she snapped. “Yet.”

Her tone hardened.

“I gave you a deal. You declined. Instead, you left to see that son of a—”

“Mom!” I cut in sharply. “Will you stop calling Ben that? For Christ’s sake, he is my—”

“Christ?” she interrupted coldly. “You dare say that?”

Her eyes burned into mine.

“He is disappointed in you.”

I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, exhaling harshly.

This was too much.

She was pushing too far.

Taking advantage of everything going wrong.

“You know what?” she said suddenly, her voice shifting—calmer, but more dangerous.

“If you won’t do what I asked about Maria… then perhaps you’re ready for something else.”

I frowned slightly, a hint of curiosity slipping in despite myself.

“What are you talking about?”

Her lips curved faintly.

“Counseling.”

I blinked.

“For twelve months,” she continued. “And if I clean up your mess and you still refuse completion of it afterward…”

She didn’t finish the sentence.

She didn’t need to.

I knew her.

“What counseling?” I asked slowly, narrowing my eyes. “And don’t tell me it’s with the priest.”

She laughed softly.

Not amused.

Certain.

“No, son,” she said. “You won’t regret this journey.”

Journey?

Something about that word didn’t sit right.

Then she added—

“With her.”

I was stilled.

“Her?”

Her smile deepened slightly, she couldn't hide it more than that.

“The nun.”

A pause.

“Sister Elara.”

My eyes shut briefly as realization hit.

A low breath escaped me.

“Fnck…” I muttered under my breath.

Then louder—

“Mom… you didn’t.”