CHAPTER 81 — The Morning After the Almost-Kiss

Leander POVI do not sleep. I lie in bed with my eyes open and stare at the ceiling. Every time I close them, I see him. I see Avelin standing in that kitchen and breathing against my mouth. He was close enough to kiss and close enough to break everything.I drag a hand down my face and exhale slowly. I have built my entire life on control, yet yesterday I almost lost it because of him. I almost lost it because of something I do not even understand.I sit up. The sheets are cold and empty. They have been empty for months, but last night they felt wrong. It felt as if someone was supposed to be there, like I am missing something I cannot name.I stand abruptly. Work is simple, structured, and it makes sense. Avelin does not. I get dressed in silence. My suit, tie, and watch are all precise and controlled. This is everything I know.I arrive at the office earlier than usual. The building is quiet and still waking up. I do not want distractions, so I walk straight to my office."Good mor

CHAPTER 82 — Coffee and Careful Distance

Avelin POVI should not be here. That is the first thought in my head as I step into the break room. It is too small, too quiet, and too easy to get trapped inside. But I need coffee. I need something to steady my hands because ever since the elevator, ever since the moment my body knew he was coming before my eyes did, I have not been able to breathe properly.I move quickly with my eyes down. I focus on the coffee machine, the cup, and the routine because they are simple and safe. I reach for the mug.The door opens.I freeze. I do not need to look. The bond flares in a way that is hot, immediate, and too aware. I turn slowly, and there he is. Leander stands in the doorway with a perfect suit, perfect posture, and perfect control, except for his eyes. They lock onto mine, and something in them breaks just slightly. It looks like he feels it, too. Of course he does.We stand there as two people in a room too small for what exists between us. Neither of us moves, and neither of us spe

Chapter 83 — Baby Shen's Questions

Avelin POVThe house is quiet. It is the kind of quiet that settles deep into your bones. Baby Shen is sitting on the floor with his legs spread and crayons scattered around him. He is drawing again. He does that a lot now. His small hands grip the crayon too tightly, and his tongue peeks out in concentration as he hums softly. That sound feels like home and heartbreak at the same time because he learned it from Shen. He learned it from his papa.I stand in the doorway for a moment to watch and memorize the scene because moments like this slip away too fast."Daddy," he says suddenly."Hmm?"He does not look up. "Papa's hair is black, right?"My chest tightens. "Yes," I say softly. "It is black.""And his eyes are blue.""Yes."He nods as if that confirms something important, then he keeps drawing.I walk closer and kneel beside him. "What are you drawing?" I ask gently.He holds it up proudly. "It is us."I take the paper and my heart stops. There are three figures. They are stick-li

Chapter 84 — Madam Lia Makes Her Move

Madam Lia POVI do not believe in coincidence. I do not believe in it in business, in family, and certainly not in fate. Everything can be guided, positioned, and arranged. This includes people, and it especially includes my son.I stir my tea slowly as I watch the sunlight stretch across the private dining room. Everything is prepared. The setting is quiet, elegant, and controlled, which is exactly how I like it. The staff knows better than to interrupt me today. Today is important, not for the company, but for something far more fragile. It is for my son and the life he forgot.I have spent months observing him as he returned to the world and to his empire. He has returned to the man he used to be. He is cold, controlled, and untouchable. But something is different now. Something is missing, and something has become soft. I know exactly where that softness went. It went to Cliffhaven, to Avelin Mirei, and to the child who is my grandson.I close my eyes briefly. I remember the first

All Chapters of The Forgotten Vow (MM Romance): Chapter 81 - Chapter 84

CHAPTER 81 — The Morning After the Almost-Kiss

CHAPTER 82 — Coffee and Careful Distance

Chapter 83 — Baby Shen's Questions

Chapter 84 — Madam Lia Makes Her Move