CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Damien’s POV

“Adam, have you seen  Adrian?”

I spotted Adam sitting stiffly in one of the lobby chairs and went straight for him. My pulse was already ticking faster than I liked. I’d been planning to surprise my wife with lunch, maybe steal him away for an hour, but when I checked his office… nothing. Empty. Even Lauren hadn’t seen him.

That alone was enough to put me on edge.

Adam glanced up, eyes wide, like I’d just caught him red-handed. “Sir Mr. Hale went out by himself. He said he was heading to the pizzeria.”

My chest clenched. By himself?

“What!?” My voice boomed through the lobby before I could stop it. A few employees passing by froze, probably pretending not to listen. I didn’t give a damn. “Why didn’t you accompany him?”

“I tried!” Adam stammered, practically shrinking into the chair. “But he insisted. Said he’d fire me if I followed.”

Fire him? That sounded exactly like something a wife would say just to get his way.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling through my teeth. “You should’ve ignored him. If anything happens to him, Adam, I swear ”

“He’s fine, sir! He said he just wanted pizza. It’s the one near the park.”

I shot him a glare sharp enough to cut glass. “Stay here. I’ll deal with you later.”

Then I stormed out of the building, cutting through the crowds and crossing the street with my heartbeat pounding too fast. I tried to convince myself I was overreacting. He was only getting food. It was broad daylight. What could possibly 

No. Don’t even finish that thought.

 Adrian liked to walk through the park on his way to the pizzeria, something about fresh air and “clearing his thoughts.” I jogged toward the gates, eyes scanning every bench, every corner, until 

There.

By one of the benches near the pond. wife, holding onto some old man who looked like he’d barely made it out of bed. My stomach dropped.

“Adrian! wife!” I shouted, breaking into a run.

By the time I reached them, my lungs were burning. I bent over, hands braced on my knees, trying to catch my breath. The wife looked up at me, eyebrows lifted in the way he does when he knows I’m about to scold him.

“I was looking for you because ” I cut off. My gaze locked on the old man, and my blood ran cold.

No. No, no, no.

“Grandpa?”

Leopold Cross. The patriarch of the family. My grandfather. Standing there next to my fiancé like they were on some kind of Sunday stroll.

This was not how I wanted them to meet.

“Hello, Damien.” His voice was weaker than I remembered, but his eyes? Still sharp.

“What are you doing here?” My tone came out clipped, and I noticed immediately how he avoided my eyes. I knew that look. He’d run away from the hospital. And if he was here, alone and weak God, this was dangerous.

“I… I needed a breather.”

I reached out to steady him, already planning to drag him back whether he liked it or not. “Come on, let’s get you back before the staff loses their minds ”

“NO!”

The shout didn’t come from him. It came from  Adrian.

I blinked at him. He had pulled Grandpa to his side like some overprotective guard dog. “Hubby, we’re going to see the ducks. He came here for the ducks and I’m taking him.”

My brow furrowed. Was he serious?

“wife, he’s weak. He needs rest, not ducks.”

 Adrian jutted his chin stubbornly. “I said no. Are you deaf? Either we see the ducks or you get no kisses until the day you die.”

I groaned, dragging my hand down my face. He always played dirty.

“Fine,” I muttered. “We see the ducks, then we take him back. No arguments.”

 Adrian beamed like he’d just won the Olympics. Grandpa… smiled softly too, which unsettled me.

“Come on, Leo,” wife said warmly, taking his hand and leading him down the path.

Behind me, I heard Sam’s low chuckle. When I glared at him, his face instantly went blank.

“Call the hospital,” I ordered. “Tell them we’ve got him.”

As I followed, I couldn’t help noticing how… cozy the two of them looked, whispering and laughing as they walked hand in hand. My stomach tightened. Something didn’t add up.

And then I heard  Adrian say, “You could’ve told your family the truth. They’d understand.”

What truth?

Grandpa’s voice was hesitant, almost trembling. “I can’t. I’m afraid they’ll hate me.”

What the hell were they talking about?

“Closets are for clothes, Pops,”  Adrian teased gently. “Not people. You said to yourself you don’t have much time. Why not just be honest?”

Closets? My skin prickled.

I couldn’t take it anymore. “Tell me about what?”

They froze. Grandpa’s eyes flicked between me and  Adrian like a trapped animal.

“I…” he stuttered, voice catching.  Adrian rubbed his back, murmuring, “Go on. Tell him.”

Grandpa drew in a shaky breath. His gaze locked with mine.

“Damien,” he said. “I’m gay.”

The words slammed into me like a fist to the gut. I stumbled a step back, my eyes widening.

“What?!”

He looked ashamed but resolute. “I tried to hide it all my life. In my time, it was… despised. I was afraid. Afraid of losing respect, of losing family. But the truth is I never hated you, Damien. I was proud. I just… wanted you to marry before I die, because I wanted you to find happiness. I wanted to see you smile again.”

My chest constricted. He was talking about the kidnapping. About Vince. I hadn't really smiled since then. Not until  Adrian.

wife squeezed my hand. I glanced down at him and realized my face was wet. Damn it I hadn’t even noticed the tears.

“Grandpa,” I said hoarsely, pulling  Adrian to my side, “this is  Adrian Hale. My fiancé.”

For the first time in my life, I saw Leopold’s face light up with a genuine, wide smile.

“I’m happy for you, Damien. Truly. Take care of him. He’s one of a kind.”

I leaned down to kiss  Adrian, then let him return to Grandpa’s side. My heart still hadn’t caught up.

We sat by the pond with Sam lurking nearby. Grandpa told us about James, the doctor he’d fallen for decades ago. They’d kept it a secret, an affair hidden behind polite smiles and family dinners. James had loved ducks that’s why Grandpa came here. To see the ducks and remember him.

I should’ve felt betrayed. But all I saw was a man who’d carried too much alone.

Eventually, hospital staff arrived with Uncle Frank in tow. And of course, Frank opened his big mouth the second he saw  Adrian.

“You! So you’re the gold-digger my nephe ”

Before he could finish,  Adrian moved. In one clean motion, he grabbed Frank’s shoulder, and bam his knee connected with Frank’s crotch.

The man crumpled instantly, groaning in pain while the entire park froze in shock.

“Next time someone owes you money,”  Adrian snapped, “give them more than a week!”

I broke first. Laughter spilled out of me, uncontrollable, and even some of the staff chuckled nervously. Frank lay there whimpering like a dying walrus.

Grandpa gave us both a sad smile as they led him away. “You’re lucky, the both of you. Treasure this love. I never had the chance.”

We hugged him goodbye. Watching him disappear into the crowd made something ache inside me.

 Adrian’s stomach growled loudly, breaking the moment. He pouted. “It’s past lunchtime. I’m starving.”

I laughed, pulling him against me. “Let’s get you fed then.”

He rambled the whole way about how awkward it would be if I just stared at him while he ate, until I leaned down and whispered in his ear, “I’ll feed you myself. And afterward… maybe I’ll eat you up.”

He went red instantly, biting his lip, eyes darting away. A very obvious tent formed in his slacks.

“P-Pervert!”

I laughed harder, kissing his temple as we left the park.

But what I didn’t notice, at least not then, was the way Grandpa had been staring at  Adrian before leaving. That smile hadn’t just been approved.

It had been recognized.