All Chapters of THE TIES THAT BINDS US.: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The mansion loomed before me, an imposing fortress of glass and steel. Even from the outside, it reeked of money—obnoxious, in-your-face wealth. Typical of Adrian. The man never needed to say a word; his riches did the talking for him.I stood there, arms crossed, staring at the sheer size of the place. It was far bigger than I had expected, swallowing up the surrounding landscape like a beast. My jaw clenched. This was a mistake.The sharp slam of a car door snapped me from my thoughts. Adrian. His presence alone was enough to make my teeth grind. He approached, his pace unhurried, as if he had all the time in the world. I refused to acknowledge him, keeping my eyes fixed ahead.He was so fucking annoying. If I could strangle him and get away with it, I would.Unfortunately, that was just a fantasy.“You coming?” His voice was flat, indifferent, like he couldn’t care less whether I followed or not.I didn’t answer. I already knew this arrangement would do me more harm than good. But

Adrain's POVI sat in the dimly lit living room, the pile of files in front of me demanding my attention, but despite my best efforts, my mind kept wandering. The papers in my hands blurred as I replayed the events of the day, and, more specifically, thoughts of Matthew invaded my every moment.I knew he’d stepped out earlier to meet his friends. I always knew. There was nothing he could do that I didn’t notice, no matter how subtle. I watched him like a hawk, meticulously observing each move, each glance. A sly smile curled at the corners of my lips, amused by how much control I had over his emotions.The anger in his eyes when he looked at me, the fury building within him every time I outsmarted him. It was all so... delicious. He had no idea just how much power I held over him. Each glance, every clenched fist, only made me feel more in control. The way he couldn't stand losing, how he loathed my victories—it was like a game to me, a twisted kind of sport, and I was winning.Matthe

Matthew's POV Adrian said he didn’t kiss me.His voice had been calm—too calm—detached, indifferent, almost convincing if not for the way my skin still burned with the memory of him. He stared straight through me, as if the words he spoke were simple facts, not loaded with consequence. But no matter how smooth his tone, no matter how steady his gaze, I don’t believe him. Not for a damn second.The memories of last night are a mess, a chaotic blend of light and shadow, broken fragments scattered across my mind like glass shards—sharp enough to sting, but never clear enough to piece together. They flash too quickly, disappearing the moment I try to grasp them. Yet, one truth remains—my body remembers what my mind refuses to fully see. The way I woke up this morning… weak, sore, disoriented—every inch of me screaming a silent truth his mouth refuses to speak.He’s lying. He has to be. There’s no better explanation.I can still picture the way his eyes didn’t so much as flinch when he sa

Morning came far too early, dragging me out of sleep before I was ready. The pale light of dawn crept through the half-closed curtains, bleeding into the room with a dull, grey hue that did nothing to warm the sterile air. I blinked slowly, fighting the heaviness in my eyes as I stared blankly at the ceiling overhead, my mind caught somewhere between dreams and the harsh pull of reality. For a moment, I simply lay there, listening to the deafening silence pressing in from all sides.An unfamiliar calm settled over me — not the kind born of peace or comfort, but the kind that came only from pure exhaustion. My limbs felt heavy, my body sore in ways I couldn’t explain. Still, there was one small mercy — the gnawing hunger from last night had dulled. The food, as much as I hated to admit it, had done its job. I could almost taste it still — bland, lukewarm, but necessary. Denying that would’ve been a waste of energy. But swallowing it down had burned worse than any hunger. Every bite fel

I paced my room restlessly, the carpet muffling the sound of my dragging steps, but it did nothing to quiet the storm raging inside me. Every stride felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of my anger was physically anchoring me to the floor, grinding me down until I was nothing more than a shell driven by pure, seething rage. My chest heaved, heart pounding so loud it rang in my ears—louder, it seemed, than the silence suffocating the room.And it was all because of him. Adrian.God, why? Why the hell did it have to be him?Out of everyone—every miserable bastard this wretched city had to offer—why did fate tie my life to his? It didn’t feel like destiny. No, this wasn’t fate—it was a punishment, cold and calculated, delivered by a universe that must’ve hated me from the start. A cruel joke played at my expense, and the worst part? I walked right into it. Blind. Foolish.I threw my head back, a bitter, humorless laugh ripping from my throat—dry and broken. The sound echoed o