All Chapters of My Enemy [BL]: Chapter 271 - Chapter 280

The bar area was a quieter escape from the lively ballroom, tucked away from the main dance floor where the orchestra was currently playing a slow, graceful waltz. Dark wood was shining softly under amber pendant lights, with bottles neatly arranged behind the bartender, their labels glowing in warm golden tones.The leather stools had high backs that made you feel like you were sinking into a fancy couch, and the air carried the faint scent of aged scotch, citrus zest, and the lingering fragrances of the crowd that had drifted off to dance.Logan sat on one of those stools like he wanted to fade into his drink, his tie loose, silver hair falling into his eyes as he waved his empty glass at the bartender, impatiently flicking his wrist as if he were accustomed to getting what he wanted right away."Another," he commanded, his voice slurring a bit, making the word drag out. "And make it quick this time; I’m not paying for slow service."The bartender’s jaw tightened briefly, but he jus

Rowan sighed—long, fond, exasperated. He glanced around once more, scanning for eyes on us, then jerked his head toward the discreet bank of elevators half-hidden behind a column wrapped in cascading fairy lights. "Fine. But we’re in and out. The second anything feels off, we bail. No arguments. No heroics."Relief and adrenaline crashed through me like ice water and fire at once. "Okay. Okay."We slipped through the gala like we belonged there, Rowan’s warm palm settling low on the small of my back, guiding me past clusters of sequined gowns and black tuxedos, past waiters balancing champagne flutes that caught the chandelier light like falling stars. His touch was steady, casual to anyone watching, but I could feel the faint tremor in his fingers that matched the one running under my own skin.The elevators were behind a velvet rope marked "VIP Access Only." Rowan flashed the room key card he’d quietly lifted from his father’s things during dinner...his movements so smooth and pract

Rowan turned to me, his expression a mix of betrayal and exasperation, as if I’d just suggested we invite a vampire to a garlic festival. "Atlas—""He’s Logan’s nephew," I pressed, meeting Rowan’s eyes. "If anyone understands how he thinks, it’s Frank. What if we’re fumbling in the dark and he’s the flashlight we need?"Frank crossed his arms again, ever the skeptic, eyeing us both cautiously, but I caught a flicker of curiosity beneath the doubt."And why should I care?" he asked, bewilderment in his voice. "Especially when this is coming from him?"His gaze shifted to Rowan, the past resentment bubbling up again, creating tense air between them. "Why would I risk anything for Rowan Asshole Harrigan? Last I checked, we weren’t exactly sending each other Christmas cards."I didn’t argue. I just stepped closer to Frank, the carpet muffling my footsteps, and before I could overthink it, I reached out and took his hand. His skin was warm, surprisingly soft and I felt that familiar spark

He let go of my wrist, running both hands through his dark hair, making it stand up in messy tufts that somehow made him look younger and more vulnerable. "Atlas, he’s your ex. Your charming, well-connected, still-so-into-you ex. And you’re asking me...asking us, to trust him with my mother’s death. With everything we’ve been after for months. With you."Guilt twisted in my chest because he wasn’t wrong, not at all."I know," I replied quickly, reaching out to grab the sleeve of his tux before he could walk away again. "And I’m sorry. I should’ve warned you better, should’ve talked it through instead of just... throwing him into the mix like that. I panicked. He walked in, saw everything, and when I realized he wasn’t going to call security, I just...I panicked and told him the truth. It felt like the only option we had left."He paused long enough to look me in the eyes, the anger there shifting to something more complicated, hurt, protectiveness, exhaustion, maybe even a bit of fear

Before I could muster a token protest, I was being pulled forward through the crowd, Rowan dragged along beside me like he’d become just another accessory to the evening’s agenda. The music swelled around us again, the hum of polished laughter and expensive confidence closing in, and I felt that familiar knot of anxiety tighten in my chest until it was hard to breathe.We stopped at the first group, men in tailored suits that probably cost more than my tuition, women draped in silk and diamonds that sparkled like tiny stars, all of them smiling with that practiced ease of folks who had been doing this their whole lives.Names were tossed around too quickly for me to catch half of them, hands shaken, compliments exchanged like currency. I nodded when expected, smiled when someone looked at me expectantly, but the words blurred together, slipping by without sticking. With every introduction, my shoulders grew tense, my grip tightening on my phone in my pocket as if that were the only th