Straight Forward Confrontation

Yuri's heart skipped a beat the second he saw Gleb, but his expression shifted to pure disgust almost immediately.

He watched carefully, his glass inches away from his lips, as Ethan let go of Gleb's arm the moment they fully entered public view.

The expression on his face was calm and composed with flushed cheeks. Gleb on the other hand looked noticeably disheveled beside him.

His hair was messy, his collar looks and lips slightly red like someone either kissed him with their face or fist.

The former made Yuri nauseous, but not as nauseous as the fact he never noticed Ethan and Gleb's affair earlier. It was even funnier how he used to be so heads over heels.

A normal person would still feel conflicted at the moment, but all Yuri could think about was revenge for being played and treated like trash for those years.

He drank the last of what was in his glass, placed it on the long dining table at the corner of the hall and got another before turning back to watch the lovers.

They stopped just a few feet away from the room they stepped out of, Ethan whispered something to Gleb that got him clenching his jaw in annoyance.

But then Yuri noticed the third person stepping out from the same room.

Bright nearly white pale blonde hair, messily styled with a few strands over his forehead, and a body only intense training and workout could result in. Not to mention his light blue eyes that seemed to reflect the lights around him.

Yuri's gaze lingered on his face for quite a while. He couldn't quite place it, but he forgot who that was.

He tilted his head slightly.

“Gleb's friend?" He asked outloud, still not taking his eyes off the guy. He was sure he came across someone like that, but he couldn't recall where or who he was.

He watched the strange guy walk over to Gleb with a mocking smile on his face. Gleb's expression didn't change either, but his clenched fists showed he was angry.

Ethan moved between the two men, his gaze darting around nervously, he said something to the strange guy that got him stepping back a bit with his hands raised.

But Yuri continued watching and taking notes.

His black suit looked just as messy as Gleb’s. His collar was torn slightly around his neck while his sleeves remained slightly rolled up like he'd just walked out of an argument or a fight.

He chuckled softly to himself before taking a glass from a passing waiter and bringing it lazily toward his lips.

Yuri frowned.

‘Is he one of Gleb's lovers?’ he wondered internally but shook his head gently and took a sip from his drink.

That couldn't be Gleb's lover. Gleb hated anyone taller than him. The man would rather throw himself down a staircase than admit someone could look down at him.

“So Ethan then?’ his gaze drifted to Ethan and Gleb as they made their way back into the room completely unaware of his eyes on them.

Yuri simply chuckled.

They were being so obvious.

It was then his attention shifted to the pair not far from him also staring, then the woman laughed when her friend said something.

“Isn't he handsome? He's pretty polite too, and I hear he's Old Man Mikhail?”

Yuri froze.

He slowly turned to look at the stranger. ‘Mikhail? The Mikhail Vasilev? Seriously?!’

The woman's friend laughed softly, "He may be polite but he's an absolute menace, haven't you seen how he treats his step brother?”

Yuri's ears perked up suspiciously. He sneakily went close and averted his gaze.

"What?” The woman looked at the stranger and shook her head. "That's absurd, he doesn't look bad."

"It's always the innocent ones love, although he doesn't really look innocent. The old man had him and his mother married into another family for some contract,” the lady shrugged.

“Honestly, it's even funnier because the contract ended yesterday and Caesar began showing his true colours. I'm telling you that's all a facade.” she paused, “I also heard all the omegas he's been with went missing." She whispered as they walked off after her friend gasped.

Yuri blinked. He looked at the strange man, narrowing his eyes like he was seeing things, but he honestly wasn't.

When Caesar's eyes met his, he gasped, choked on his drinks and instantly turned away coughing.

He clutched his chest, his other hand covering his mouth as he coughed discreetly.

He suddenly realised who that person was paying no mind to the last thing the woman said, but not out of familiarity but because he found out about him on the news, specifically under a scandal involving Ethan.

Yuri's fingers tightened around the glass, "No, That wasn't possible.” He forgot that face and at the same time remembered because that face was popular on the news for about two years after now.

He remembered seeing it splashed across every news channel years later, a huge scandal that nearly cost Ethan's career, his father's annoyance towards the entire issue and most importantly the tragic death.

Caesar Vasilev was supposed to be dead.

Why was he here then?

Why was he fighting with Gleb? Was he involved with Ethan as well?

Multiple questions rose in Yuri's mind, completely forgetting about the most important thing. He was so distracted that he didn't realize he was being watched.

However, before he could turn to take a peek at Caesar again a hand dropped on his shoulder making him flinch. He spun around swiftly, and annoyed expression on his face only to come face to face with Ethan.

Yuri frowned, "Can I help you?” He asked before Ethan could say anything.

Ethan narrowed his eyes. He scanned Yuri from head to toe and scoffed. “I was wondering how long it'd take before you embarrassed yourself again, seems like you're stable enough to…" he glanced at the glass in Yuri's hand with a mocking smile, “...drink"

Yuri felt his eyes twitch with the itch to hit Ethan, since he was the root of his problems.

But instead he chuckled softly and smiled, “I'm sorry, I didn't know my mental instability was suddenly a problem for you," he said politely and tilted his head when Ethan frowned. "What's wrong?” He leaned close and whispered. "Didn't think your lover's fiance could talk back?”