Game on

Jaxon’s heart skipped a beat.

He himself forgot he was allergic to pineapple — but Leonard remembered.

Who was he really?

“Hey! You look lost,” Bruce asked worriedly.

“Yeah… I’m cool,” Jaxon forced out a smile. He sighed when he saw Leonard leaving with some investors.

“Bruce, let’s leave now. I’m getting bored,” Jaxon stood.

Bruce frowned for a bit but quickly replaced it with a fake smile.

He stood too.

“I didn’t know I was boring,” Bruce said, and Jaxon hung his arm around Bruce’s shoulder.

“Don’t be such a baby. Let’s go home — I need rest,” Jaxon purred, and Bruce smiled genuinely.

As they made their way to the exit, Jaxon’s phone buzzed with a message from Leonard.

**Leo:** I’m waiting outside. I’ll drop you home. That’s final.

**Jaxon:** Oh please Leo, you ain’t the boss of me.

After pressing send, he held Bruce’s arm as they walked outside. As expected, Leonard was there — leaning against his car with a cold expression.

Leonard’s gaze fixed on Jaxon’s arm around Bruce’s. If looks could kill, Bruce would already be buried.

Jaxon smirked at Leonard’s reaction. He pulled Bruce’s face closer and kissed his cheek.

Leonard calmly slid into his car and glided away.

“God, I’m never washing my face again!” Bruce exclaimed, cheeks flushed bright red.

“Are you blushing?” Jaxon asked knowingly, bored expression on his face.

“It was just a peck. No strings attached. Don’t get your hopes high,” he added, sliding into the passenger seat.

Bruce ruffled his hair with his fingers, lips slowly tugging into a smile.

“He’s mine,” he muttered under his breath, slid into the driver’s seat, ignited the engine, and drove away.

Destination: Golden Echo mansion.

THE EAGLE – Outside

Lionel’s car glided into the club’s parking lot. The doors opened, Lionel and Daniel stepped out.

Daniel’s father owned The Eagle — an LGBTQ club. With his father out of the country, Daniel was temporarily managing it.

“I’ll wait outside,” Lionel shrugged, backing against the car.

“I won’t force you. I just need to grab some documents, then I’ll be back,” Daniel winked, patted Lionel’s shoulder, and headed inside.

Lionel didn’t hide his disdain for places like this.

He moved to get back in his car to wait, but his gaze caught a familiar figure stepping out of the building.

Lionel raised an eyebrow when he recognized him — Jeremy.

“Jeremy!” Lionel called, waving.

Jeremy flinched for a moment, then decided to pretend he didn’t hear. Lionel ran after him and blocked his path.

“Are you deaf? I was calling you,” Lionel snapped angrily.

“What are you doing here? Do you work here? Are you one of the strippers?” Lionel asked in one breath.

Jeremy’s expression darkened instantly, but he stayed silent.

Lionel smiled, taking the silence as a “yes.”

“I didn’t expect you to be so disgusting,” Lionel spat, tucking his hands into his pockets. “Working as a stripper just for money.”

Jeremy’s head snapped up.

His eyes burned — not with shame, but with fury.

“I said nothing,” Jeremy replied coldly. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”

Lionel gave a mocking chuckle. “Silence is an answer.”

“It’s not,” Jeremy shot back. “It’s me deciding whether you’re worth replying to.”

Lionel’s smile faded slightly. “Then deny it.”

Jeremy stepped closer, voice low and steady. “Even if I was working here, what gives you the right to call me disgusting?”

Lionel’s jaw tightened. “Because I know you. Or at least I thought I did.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” Jeremy snapped. “You see a club name and suddenly you’re acting like a saint.”

Before Lionel could respond, the doors of The Eagle opened again.

Daniel stepped out, tension instantly filling his face when he sensed the hostility.

“What’s going on?” Daniel asked.

Lionel didn’t look at him. His eyes were locked on Jeremy. “Ask your friend.”

Daniel’s gaze shifted to Jeremy, confused. “Friend?”

Jeremy exhaled sharply. “He thinks I work here.”

Daniel blinked. “What?”

Lionel laughed dryly. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”

“Jeremy doesn’t work here,” Daniel’s expression hardened.

“Then why was he inside?” Lionel demanded.

Daniel hesitated for half a second.

“I came to see him,” Jeremy answered instead.

Lionel mockingly laughed out loud. “Daniel, don’t tell me you were pounding Jeremy’s ass.”

Daniel clenched his fists tight, restraining himself from punching Lionel.

Lionel was never like this. Why was he acting this way?

Jeremy’s voice trembled, but his eyes were blazing.

“Enough! I only came to borrow money from Daniel. You’re so judgmental, Lionel. I hate you! Just because you’re rich, you think you have the right to look down on poor people like me. Disgusting.”

The word sliced through the air.

Before Lionel could react, Jeremy turned and walked away, shoulders stiff, pride barely holding him together.

Silence fell.

And then it hit.

Hard.

Guilt flooded Lionel’s chest so violently it almost stole his breath.

Without thinking, he slapped himself.

The sharp sting spread across his cheek.

“What’s wrong with me?!” he yelled into the empty parking lot.

Daniel didn’t look angry.

He looked disappointed.

And somehow, that was worse.

He shook his head slowly and turned to leave.

“Dan…” Lionel called out, desperation creeping into his voice.

“Don’t,” Daniel’s tone was firm, colder than Lionel had ever heard it.

Lionel froze.

“You humiliated him,” Daniel continued without turning around. “You didn’t even ask what was going on. You just judged him.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“That doesn’t matter,” Daniel cut in sharply. “Intent doesn’t erase damage.”

Lionel’s throat tightened.

Daniel finally looked back at him, eyes heavy. “You have everything, Lionel. And somehow you still act like it makes you better than everyone else.”

That hurt.

Daniel turned again and walked away.

Tears flooded Lionel’s eyes immediately.

How could he be so harsh toward Jeremy?

★

Leonard’s car sped down the highway like a beast set loose.

His knuckles were white against the steering wheel, jaw locked so tight it hurt.

The image wouldn’t leave his head.

Jaxon.

Smirking.

Pulling Bruce closer.

Kissing his cheek.

His grip tightened.

He slammed his horn angrily as a car slowed in front of him.

Hooooonk!

The driver ahead swerved slightly, startled.

“Move!” Leonard growled under his breath, pressing the horn again — longer this time.

The sound pierced through the night.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

“What’s wrong with me?” he muttered.

He wasn’t angry at Bruce.

Not really.

He was angry at himself.

For standing there.

For acting calm.

For sliding into his car like it didn’t matter.

He should have dragged Bruce away.

Should have broken his face.

Should have—

Leonard hit the horn again, violently.

The memory replayed in slow motion in his mind.

Bruce’s flushed face.

Jaxon’s bored expression.

That smirk.

He did it on purpose.

And Leonard reacted exactly the way Jaxon wanted.

He let out a humorless laugh.

“Control yourself,” he told himself sharply.

But jealousy burned through his chest like fire.

By the time the gates of his mansion came into view, his eyes were dark.

Not just with anger.

But with something far more dangerous—

Possessiveness.

And Leonard had never liked losing what he considered his.

He couldn’t just lose him… again.

Never.

Not in this lifetime.

Or any to come.

[Ryu’s Room] – That same night

The air was thick with the smell of drugs, alcohol, and cigarette smoke.

Ryu lay on the bed, drowning himself in liquor, crying and laughing at the same time like a maniac.

The door creaked open. Vincent stepped in — he’d been knocking for minutes with no answer, so he came in uninvited.

“Ryu,” Vincent said quietly.

Ryu grinned, clearly not in his right mind.

Vincent covered his nose — he couldn’t stand the smell of hard drugs.

Ryu looked horrible.

Eyes pale, skin dull.

“Do you have my answer yet?” Ryu asked drowsily.

Vincent hesitated. As their manager, he was responsible for their wellbeing. If he didn’t agree to what Ryu was insisting on, he wouldn’t stop the drugs. If the agency found out, Ryu’s image would be ruined… forever.

“Okay,” Vincent sighed.

The drowsiness vanished instantly. A wide smile tugged at Ryu’s lips.

He gathered the remaining drugs, went into the bathroom, and flushed them down the toilet.

“Vinny,” Ryu purred, stepping out and collapsing onto the bed, falling asleep.

Vincent gently covered him with the sheets, cleaned the room, and sprayed air freshener.

When he was done, he switched off the lights and stepped out, closing the door carefully.

His gaze flickered to Jaxon — he was walking back to his room after getting water downstairs.

TWO DAYS LATER  

[LIAM’S MANSION]

Tate’s eyes lazily flickered open. She turned to the other side of the bed, but Liam wasn’t there.

She frowned slightly, sitting up. Memories from last night rushed back immediately.

Liam’s serious face.

His firm tone.

The condition.

“If you try to take revenge on Golden Echo again, Tate… there won’t be a wedding.”

Her chest tightened.

She had laughed at first, thinking he was joking.

“Liam, you might have stopped me from getting revenge on Golden Echo, but you can’t stop me from getting revenge on Kai,” Tate smirked.

She picked up her phone and dialed a number.

GOLDEN ECHO MANSION – JAXON’S ROOM

Jaxon sat in front of his vanity mirror, legs crossed as he carefully applied a soft stroke of eyeliner.

The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner.

Two days.

Two whole days.

No calls.

No texts.

He leaned closer to the mirror, blending his blush with slow, precise movements.

And surprisingly—

He liked it.

His lips curved slightly.

“So he finally decided to behave,” he murmured to his reflection.

No intense stares.

No possessive energy.

No cold commands masked as concern.

Peace.

He picked up his lip gloss and applied it carefully, tilting his chin up.

But as he capped it and set it down, his fingers paused for a split second.

Two days.

Leonard wasn’t the type to stay silent.

Not after what he did.

He leaned back in his chair, studying himself in the mirror.

He was extremely excited and happy today — who wouldn’t be? His new track featuring Bruce would be released today.

Yay!

Jaxon’s sneakers squeaked softly against the marble floor as he descended the staircase and stepped outside.

The morning sun glinted off his car, parked at the bottom of the driveway.

His phone rang — it was Tate. He answered anyway.

“What do you want, Tate?” Jaxon snapped, not trying to hide his disdain.

“There’s a courier guy walking toward you right now. Just read whatever he gives you,” Tate said and ended the call.

Jaxon smirked when he saw the courier coming closer. The man handed him Kai’s old diary from college days, bowed, and left.

“Strange,” Jaxon muttered.

Jaxon flipped open the diary, his eyes catching a page dated:

2022

He read the words slowly, letting each sentence sink in.

“I can’t stand Jaxon. I don’t even know why I pretended to be his friend. He’s only pretty — that’s it. That’s all anyone ever notices about him. Guys fawn over him, people listen to him, everyone praises him like he’s some kind of god… and it makes me sick. Every time I see someone smile at him, laugh at his jokes, or even glance his way, I feel my blood boil. I hate that he doesn’t even notice what he’s doing to me, how easy it is for him to charm everyone without even trying. And me? I’ve been stuck trying to get the same attention, the same recognition, the same admiration he gets effortlessly.

“I’ve only been his friend because it gave me access to everything I couldn’t have on my own — his connections, his popularity, the way he lights up every room he walks into. But I hate him for it. I hate the way he smiles at guys and how they hang on his every word. I hate how people listen to him, respect him, even like him more than me. I can’t stand it. I can’t stand him. He’s fake, and I’ve been faking right along with him, but inside… I despise him. Every little thing he does — his laugh, his style, the way he carries himself — it makes me want to scream.

“Sometimes I catch myself watching him, feeling this burning, twisted envy. He doesn’t even try to win people over — they just fall for him. And me? I have to scheme, plan, manipulate… and even then, it’s never enough. It’s not fair. He’s everything I wish I could be, and it drives me insane. If anyone knew how much I truly hated him, they’d understand why I smile when I see him stumble, why I feel a secret satisfaction when things don’t go perfectly for him. He makes me want to claw my way to the top, just to prove that I can be better than him. But deep down, I know I’ll never be like him. I’ll never have that effortless charm, that natural allure, that ability to make everyone, especially the guys, notice him first. And that… that makes me hate him even more.”

“I even stole his boyfriend away from him behind his back, but still yet he didn’t break.”

2025

“Tate… that guy is dangerous. He can’t be controlled like Jaxon. I’ve been watching him, and he doesn’t obey rules, he doesn’t bend, he doesn’t care about what people think. I need to do something about him before he ruins everything. I can’t let him interfere. If he keeps going the way he does, he’ll destroy every plan I’ve made, and I can’t allow that. Tate… he’s unpredictable, and I don’t know if anyone can contain him. Maybe it’s time I make a move, quietly, before it’s too late.”

Tears brimmed in Jaxon’s eyes. Everything was a sham. Kai only pretended to be his friend.

Jaxon’s heart shattered into a million pieces, but he quickly composed himself and wiped away his tears.

He dialed Leonard’s line instantly.

Leonard answered immediately but didn’t say anything — Jaxon was sure he was probably smirking deviously.

“Leo… are you busy? Let’s hang out together… ALONE,” Jaxon requested in his sweetest, angelic voice.

Game on.

TO BE CONTINUED...