Impulsive Decision

Ethan's face twisted from shock to anger and finally anxiety. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles had started turning white, and the veins popping out on his forehead did a horrible job of hiding his emotions.

However, Yuri couldn't find it any less interesting.

He smirked slightly and leaned back, letting Ethan process the entire thing.

Then...

"How dare you assume such a thing?" Ethan spat. "I would never stoop so low."

Yuri raised a brow. "Then why are you lowering your voice if it's not true?"

Ethan gritted his teeth. His eyes darted around the hall to ensure no one was listening before he snapped his head toward Yuri.

"What is your problem? Are you that bitter about me being close to Gleb?"

"Bitter?" Yuri asked, his smirk already gone.

He wasn't bitter. In fact, he was more than happy that he had been given a second chance. If there was anything that described what he felt, it was resentment.

Toward Ethan and toward Gleb, then toward his parents for persuading him into such an arrangement.

And finally toward Gleb's selfish parents, another pair of cogwheels responsible for ruining his life.

But most of all, he hated himself for being such a pathetic lover.

He chuckled softly and shook his head.

"I'm not bitter." He paused to glance at the stranger, who was now speaking to Gleb, before looking back at Ethan. "I'm just upset. I recently found out my fiancé is hooking—"

He cut himself off and smiled.

Ethan frowned, but before he could respond, Gleb's parents approached with bright smiles on their faces.

Mr. and Mrs. Callisto, two individual Influential figures within the entertainment industry. One of the people responsible for covering up Gleb's stupid scandals during their marriage.

They immediately pulled Yuri into a hug, completely oblivious to the uncomfortable expression he wore.

After a moment, they pulled away.

"You look absolutely gorgeous in black. Why did Gleb insist on you wearing white?" Mrs. Callisto asked as she straightened his collar and pinched his cheek.

Yuri laughed awkwardly.

"I don't think there was anything wrong with the white suit."

He glanced at Ethan beside him and gestured casually.

"I don't want to be rude, but this is Ethan, Gleb's closest friend."

Yuri narrowed his eyes as he watched the interaction between the three of them.

At first, he wanted to believe they knew what was going on.

However, judging from the disapproving look on Gleb's father's face and his obvious lack of interaction with Ethan, it seemed they genuinely had no idea.

Or...Maybe they were pretending.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Gleb approaching until it was too late.

"Babe!"

Gleb grinned as he closed the distance and lifted Yuri off the ground in one smooth motion.

Yuri was dangerously close to screaming in irritation, but he forced a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"You scared me earlier. How are you feeling now?" Gleb asked as he set him down and curved a finger beneath Yuri's chin, forcing him to look up. "You still look pale."

Yuri stared at the hand beneath his chin before slowly lifting his gaze to Gleb's face.

For a second, he genuinely couldn't believe this man.

‘The audacity.’

The absolute fucking audacity.

Here Gleb was, standing in front of him after spending who knew how long locked away in a room with Ethan, looking like he'd either been punched repeatedly or aggressively kissed, and somehow Yuri was the problem.

A laugh left his lips.

Not because anything was funny, but because if he didn't laugh, he might actually throw his drink at someone's head.

He knew Gleb was angry, if not furious, and simply putting on a façade.

Which somehow made this the perfect opportunity.

"You know what pisses me off the most?" Yuri asked as he stepped away from him.

Gleb frowned, his mouth parted to reply, but Yuri interrupted him.

"It's how you keep acting confused and fake."

"What are you talking about?"

Yuri pointed directly at him.

"That face. That stupid face you're making right now."

Sensing the impending disaster, Mrs. Callisto was already becoming nervous. She glanced at her husband for help, but the man merely shrugged and grabbed a drink.

Ethan, on the other hand, looked ready to drag Yuri out of the ballroom himself if things escalated further.

Gleb's expression darkened immediately.

His patience was wearing thin, he couldn't endure being humiliated and beaten up by some asshole only for his so-called fiancé to start shit.

"Watch what you say to me."

Yuri barked out another laugh.

"Or what?"

"Yuri."

"No, seriously or what?" He gestured around them. "You're standing here grabbing me in public while your little friend looks like he's about to have a panic attack, and somehow you're worried about what I'm saying?"

"Enough."

Gleb grabbed Yuri's wrist again.

Yuri's smile vanished instantly. Irritation crawled beneath his skin, hotter than fire, and his stomach flipped violently. He retched, covering his mouth with his free hand.

The look in Gleb's eyes only made it worse, but it was worth it.

Because for the first time, everyone was seeing the real Gleb.

Not the charming, all-smiles golden boy.

For a brief moment, Yuri was back in that penthouse, listening to excuses while pretending not to cry before breaking down in secret once he was alone.

He looked down at the hand gripping him and then back up.

"Take your hand off me."

"No. Not until you tell me what's wrong with you."

Yuri slowly tilted his head.

"You really want me to tell you? Are you sure you want me to expose your favorite cock-warming secret, or should I let it pass?"

The last few words came out in a whisper.

Gleb's grip tightened, causing pain to shoot through Yuri's wrist. Still refused to back down, not now that he had the upper hand.

He glanced around briefly, noticing everyone watching them before looking back at Gleb with a smile.

"I'm sure you wouldn't want me to cry and scream here, so let me go."

Gleb hesitated.

For a second, Yuri genuinely thought he was going to let go. Instead, Gleb turned toward the exit and dragged him along roughly.

Ethan followed after them, apologizing the entire way and insisting Yuri was simply drunk and tired.

Yuri finally lost it.

His emotions spiraled out of control, and his pheromones burst from his body, filling the surrounding area like a protective shield.

Gleb stopped abruptly, he clenched his jaw the moment the pheromones hit him. When he turned around, he found Yuri glaring at him defiantly.

"Fuck you."

The words came out through gritted teeth.

So casually that even Yuri impressed himself.

The entire ballroom fell silent, even his parents, who had just returned, froze.

His mother looked horrified.

His father looked…impressed.

Ethan looked equally horrified.

Everything was falling apart, and if Yuri hadn't been so irritated by Gleb's touch, he might have actually enjoyed it.

"Yuri—"

"No."

Yuri yanked his arm free.

"You know what? I'm actually tired. I've been standing here listening to bullshit for ten minutes, and somehow you're all still talking."

His gaze drifted past them, Past Ethan, the crowd and landed directly on Caesar.

Still standing in that same corner, holding his glass as he watched the entire disaster unfold with a smile.

Amusement.

The bastard looked entertained.

Yuri narrowed his eyes.

‘A lover, huh?’ he thought.

A terrible idea immediately entered his head, then a grin slowly spread across face.

Gleb noticed, unfortunately for him, he mistook it for surrender again since it wasn't unusual for Yuri to smile like that when he had no choice but to obey and save face.

"Good," Gleb said. "Now stop acting ridiculous and—"

Yuri walked away mid-sentence.

As he passed Ethan, bumped shoulders with him and handed his glass to a nearby waiter.

Then he pulled the engagement ring from his finger and tossed it aside without a second thought.

"Yuri."

Gleb called after him.

"Yuri!"

By the time Gleb realized where he was going, Yuri was already halfway across the ballroom.

The guests stepped aside instinctively. Some were afraid Yuri might attack them, others simply sensed that he was on a mission.

A deeply concerning mission.

The closer he got, the more Caesar seemed to enjoy whatever was happening, those pale blue eyes followed him the entire way.

By the time Yuri stopped in front of him, the amusement was no longer hidden.

Yuri looked up at him.

Then glanced over his shoulder, every single person in the ballroom was watching.

Without saying a word, Yuri reached forward, grabbed Caesar's tie, and pulled him down to his height.

Before anybody could react, before common sense could return, before his brain could remind him that this was an absolutely terrible idea—

Yuri kissed him.