Under the Same Sky [BOYXBOY] - CHAPTER 26

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A/N: Mills Manor in the picture above.
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The party was coming to an end and the guests had already begun to trickle out. Jayden had spent the entire day trying to shake off Samuel but he clung persistently to his side like a leech, refusing to leave. He had to spend the entire party enduring Samuel’s constant chatter and beaming smile and he almost leaped in joy when the party finally came to an end.

‘Would you look at that! Those swans are so cute that I just want to cuddle them!’ Samuel gushed for the hundredth time.

Jayden folded his arms and glared at him. ‘The party is over. Shouldn’t you be leaving?’

Samuel was petting the swans with an expression of childlike delight. He looked up at the question and shook his head. ‘I can’t leave till we’ve opened your presents.’

He stood up and grabbed Jayden’s hand, dragging him excitedly to the gifts table. ‘Come on, let’s go open them!’

Jayden rolled his eyes as they stopped at the gifts table where a mountain of presents lay. ‘Those are not real gifts dumbass. These are just props, the real ones are too large and many so they are placed in the storage building at the back of the manor.’

Samuel’s eyes widened in delight. ‘That’s even better! Come on!’

Before Jayden could protest, he was dragging him across the garden, past the lake, past the maze and into the manor.

Jayden sputtered in indignation and tore himself from Samuel’s grasp. He straightened his shirt and fixed him with a piercing glare. ‘Get out.’

Samuel wasn’t paying attention to him. He was looking for a way to the back when Victoria glided up to them with an amused smile.

‘Glad to see you’re enjoying yourselves.’

Samuel beamed up at her and nodded. ‘Yes, we are. The swans are so beautiful and the peacocks are really cute.’

Victoria chuckled. ‘I don’t think they’d appreciate being called cute but thank you. They were a present from the Zulu king. Is there anything I can help you with?’

Samuel nodded but before he could speak, his parents came up to them.

‘There you are Sammy,’ his mother spoke up. ‘Come along, it’s time we take our leave.’

She turned to Victoria. ‘Thank you for inviting us into your home and for throwing such a spectacular event. It truly was marvellous.’

Victoria smiled. ‘Thank you for coming. Your presence made it even more spectacular. Though,’ she glanced at Samuel with a knowing smile. ‘I don’t think he’s ready to go yet. How about he stays over for the night?’

An expression of pure horror crossed Jayden’s face. ‘No…’

Samuel’s face broke out in a bright smile. ‘Really?’ he asked eagerly.

Jayden shook his head frantically at his mother but Victoria pretended not to see it. ‘Of course!’

‘Mother…’ Jayden warned.

Victoria continued nonplussed. ‘The boys could have a sleepover and I would send him back home when he’s finally ready.’

Sandra looked unsure. ‘I don’t know… We do have an important fundraiser to attend.’

Samuel wrapped his arms around his mother and looked up at her with his best puppy dog eyes. ‘Please mommy,’ he pleaded in a childlike voice, wobbling his lips a little.

Sandra looked down and sighed, finally giving in. She patted his hair affectionately. ‘Alright, you know I can’t say no to that face but only for three days. You can miss the fundraiser but it’s imperative we attend that conference.’

Samuel whooped and reached up to place a kiss on his mother’s cheek. ‘Thanks mum, you’re the best!’

He turned to Jayden, bouncing in excitement. ‘Isn’t this great! We are going to have so much fun!’

Jayden felt as if his whole world was crashing before his eyes. He stepped close to his mother and hissed in her ear.

‘Fix this!’

His mother ignored him. ‘It’s settled then. Don’t worry, he won’t get into any trouble.’

Sandra nodded gratefully. ‘Thank you.’ She hugged Samuel one last time before leaving with her husband.

Samuel waved excitedly at them, turning back after they had left. He was smiling from ear to ear. ‘What are we going to do first?’

Victoria laughed. ‘First, you’re going to sleep. It’s late and it’s been a long day.’

Samuel’s smile faded a little but it bounced right back as he nodded in agreement. ‘Yeah, you’re probably right. I hope it’s not a bother using one of your guest rooms.’

Victoria giggled. ‘Guest rooms? Oh no, you’d be sleeping in Jayden’s room.’

‘WHAT?’

Samuel’s eyes brightened. ‘Really? Oh cool!’

‘Don’t I get a say in this?’

No one paid him any mind. Victoria grinned at his excitement. She turned and gestured to one of the staff. ‘Mabel will show you the way and you can borrow some of Jayden’s clothes. Tomorrow, I’ll send someone over to collect yours from home.’

Mabel came over and curtseyed. ‘Ma’am.’

‘Take Mr. Asamoah to the young master’s rooms.’

Mabel nodded and curtseyed again. She turned to Samuel. ‘If you’ll follow me, sir.’

She led Samuel up the grand gold banistered marble staircase. Jayden stared after them with a thoughtful look on his face.

‘You know,’ he turned to his mother. ‘For someone who hates that her son is gay and worried that he would engage in homosexual acts, you seem awfully comfortable sending a boy to sleep with him in his room.’

Victoria turned to him with a small smile. ‘I know that nothing like that will happen. He is straight and you can barely tolerate his presence.’

‘I could do it just to spite you.’

‘I know, but you won’t.’

‘Have I ever mentioned how much I hate you mother?’

Victoria hummed. ‘You might have expressed the sentiment.’

‘Well, words cannot express how much I hate you at this moment.’

Victoria sighed. ‘I know but I think he would be a great influence on you. Who knows, one day you might even thank me.’

Jayden turned and walked away. ‘That day will never come.’

He opened the door to his room to see Samuel sitting on his bed. He was bouncing up and down with an excited look on his face which grew even bigger when his eyes lighted on Jayden.

‘Jay! Come over here, your bed is really soft and bouncy.’

Jayden scowled at him and walked into his large walk-in closet. He came out and tossed a blanket and pillow at him, hitting him right in the face.

Samuel stopped bouncing and stared puzzled at the items in his hands. ‘What are these for?’

Jayden walked over and shoved him off the bed, causing him to hit the floor with a loud oomph.

‘You’re not sleeping on the bed.’

Samuel pouted at him. He sat up and placed his elbows on the bed, staring up at him with a cute pout. ‘Why not?’ he whined. ‘It’s so big you wouldn’t even know I’m here.’

Jayden ignored him and sat on his bed. He took off his shoes and lay down, plugging his ears with his headphones.

Samuel humphed. ‘Fine. I’m going to take a shower then.’

He got up and made his way to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He blinked in surprise as he glanced around Jayden’s large pristine bathroom. Its ocean blue tiles shone in the aqua lighting with a pool sitting in the centre and a large jacuzzi standing off to the side. A gleaming silver claw-footed bath sat in the corner and straight ahead was the large marble shower place.

Jayden glanced at the bathroom door when he heard the sound of the shower running in between songs. He tossed the headphones off and sat up, walking to rummage through his closet.

A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened and Samuel walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist.

‘Hey, your shampoos are really weird and what’s the bottle with the thingy sitting in the cabinet?’ he asked, voice muffled as he rubbed his hair with another towel sitting on his neck.

Jayden scowled at the trail of water he led into his room as he came out of the walk-in closet and tried not to stare at the way the water dripped down his muscled chest, trailing its way down his hard abs and disappearing into the dip of his v-line waist.

He caught himself staring at the way a droplet hung on his pert nipples and blinked, turning away. He tossed the clothes he had picked out at him and turned off the lights before sliding into bed.

Samuel changed quietly and lay on the blanket Jayden had placed on the floor. He placed his arms on his chest and stared up into the darkness

‘Jayden?’

Jayden sighed. ‘What?’

‘Happy birthday.’

Jayden was silent as he stared up at the dark ceiling.

‘Thank you.’

Quiet snores answered him. He rolled his eyes and turned to his side, closing his eyes as the soft arms of sleep embraced him.

The following morning, Samuel woke up alone in the room. He quickly had a shower and made his way downstairs. He met Mabel on the way and she curtseyed.

‘You are expected in the breakfast room.’

Samuel nodded and smiled at her. ‘Lead the way, ma’am.’

Mabel shook her head quickly. ‘I’m not ma’am, I’m just Mabel. Young sir cannot call me ma’am. That’s Madam Victoria’s title.’

‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ Samuel quickly apologised, seeing the look of panic on her face. ‘Miss Mabel then.’

Mabel curtseyed again. ‘Young sir is too kind. If you would please follow me.’

Samuel followed her through the large halls and grand hallways. To say Mills manor was massive would be correct, to say it was grand would be an understatement. One could see the semblance of wealth in the palatial manor wherever they turned.

Though Samuel’s family manor was magnificent and grand, it couldn’t compare to the wealth and splendour of Mills Manor. From the grand tapestries, to the ancient relics, to the gold-laid pillars, to the jewellery-encrusted chandeliers, Mills Manor was really the epitome of luxury. It was no wonder they were the second family of the Noble 52.

Mabel led him through one opulent room after another before finally coming to a stop before a doorway.

‘They are waiting in there,’ Mabel said with a curtsey before turning to leave.

Samuel entered through the doorway into a lavish dining room. Crystal chandeliers hung above and sunlight shone in through the floor-to-ceiling windows that lay across the entire north wall.

Sitting at the dining table that stood in the centre were Victoria, who was looking as resplendent as ever, Jayden who wore a scowl on his face, and a man that Samuel assumed to be his father.

He walked over and took a seat as Victoria threw him a glorious smile. ‘Good morning, Samuel. How was your night?’

Samuel smiled back at her. ‘It was great Mrs. Mills. I’m sorry for keeping you all waiting.’

‘It’s alright darling. Now that you’re here, shall we begin?’

She nodded to the headwaiter who stood off to the side. At her signal, he clapped his hands and the large double doors swung open, revealing a line of waiters who glided in.

They lay the table with all sorts of food, standing in attention to the side after they were done with a white napkin draped on their arm.

They dug in and after a while, the man who Samuel assumed to be Jayden’s father spoke up from the head of the table.

‘I hope my son, wasn’t rude to you and didn’t make you feel… uncomfortable.’

Jayden scowled into his plate, understanding perfectly what his father meant. Samuel looked up at him and shook his head. ‘No, he didn’t. He was a perfect host.’

Jayden’s father was frowning at him suspiciously. ‘What’s your relationship with Jayden?’

‘I would like to think we’re friends, sir.’

Jayden frowned slightly at the use of friends but said nothing. Victoria looked uncomfortable and Samuel cold feel the tension at the table.

‘Ro, I think that’s enough,’ Victoria stepped in gently, but he ignored her.

‘Tell me about yourself, what interests you?’

‘Well, I like playing sports, any sport really but my favourites are soccer and basketball.’

That caught his interest. ‘Really?’

‘Yes. I am also an athlete and like playing video games and spending time with my girlfriend.’

That changed the whole mood. Jayden’s father beamed at him. ‘Oh, you have a girlfriend?’

He let out a loud laugh and the tension eased, lightening the whole mood. He then engaged Samuel in a conversation about sports and the two chattered animatedly away.

Jayden continued to look down on his plate without touching it. His face was impassive, not betraying what he felt.

His father let out a booming laugh at something Samuel said. He shook his head in delight. ‘You would be a great influence on Jayden. I’ve tried to get him interested in sports but he’s stubborn. Maybe you would have better luck with him.’

Samuel smiled. ‘It doesn’t really matter if he’s not interested in sports. We all have different interests.’

‘Nonsense,’ Mr. Mills boomed. ‘He’s a boy and a normal boy should play sports! Maybe if he did, he would stop being a sissy.’

A dark look crossed Jayden’s face but he said nothing. Samuel looked uncomfortable as he glanced at Jayden.

Victoria tried to change the subject. ‘Jayden darling, you haven’t touched your food.’

‘I’m not hungry.’

‘That’s the problem with you,’ his father complained. ‘You need to eat if you are to build your muscles and look manly. You are too scrawny, I mean look at Samuel over there.’

Samuel was growing highly uncomfortable with the whole situation. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Jayden’s father continued.

‘You’re not a woman so you don’t have to watch your weight. Eat and stop being a pansy.’

‘No.’

‘What did you say?’

‘No.’

‘Jayden…’ his mother looked wary. ‘Listen to your father.’

‘No.’

His father’s face grew livid. ‘Is that how you talk to your mother boy?’ he banged his fist loudly on the table, rattling the dishes. ‘Eat now or so help me I’ll-‘

‘You’ll what?’ Jayden cut in. ‘Kill me?’

Something flashed in his mother’s eyes but it was gone before Samuel could make it out. His father jumped to his feet in a rage but Victoria halted him with an order.

‘Roger, calm yourself!’

Jayden stood up and left the room causing his father to roar after him.

‘COME BACK HERE YOU UNGRATEFUL BRAT!’

‘Roger!’

He huffed and left the room in the opposite direction, causing Victoria to rise and hurry after him.

Samuel sat alone and wide-eyed at the table wondering what the hell just happened. He blinked and slowly got to his feet as the waiters started clearing up.

He left and walked around the manor in a daze as he tried to figure out what the hell had happened. He soon forgot about that as he found something which caught his interest. Exploring the manor.

He moved from room to room, staring with interest at the design, paintings, and statues which adorned each room. The tapestries were the ones that particularly caught his attention. They were richly embroidered and depicted various scenes throughout history, both mythological and real.

He spent the whole morning and a greater part of the afternoon in this endeavour. He soon made his way to a large set of oak double doors. He opened it slowly and stepped inside.

He appeared to be in a large study. A granite fireplace stood to the side and part of the wall was covered with large floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, which were overflowing with books. The other part was covered with a large map of the world and a large atlas stood in the corner.

He wasn’t alone however because sitting in the chair at the large stately desk at the far side of the room was none other than Victoria Mills.

She had been studying a document with her glasses perched on her perfectly shaped nose. She looked up when she heard the door open and smiled when she realized who it was.

She beckoned him over and removed her glasses, placing them on the desk. Samuel made his way over unsurely, stepping lightly on the soft carpet.

He stepped before the desk and smiled sheepishly. ‘I’m sorry for bothering you. I didn’t know anyone was in here.’

Victoria smiled reassuredly. ‘It’s no bother. I’m the one who has to apologize for the ugly scene this morning at breakfast.’

Samuel looked embarrassed. ‘No, you don’t. It’s alright, every family has their fights. You should see mine on a good day, it’s like a war zone.’

Victoria smiled sadly and stood up, coming to stand beside him. ‘Follow me.’

She led him out the study and through the hallway. ‘I should also apologize for being a poor host. We shouldn’t have left you to your own devices.’

They ascended a flight of stairs and turned down a corridor.

‘It’s alright. I had a lot of fun exploring the manor.’

Victoria nodded. ‘Jayden used to have a lot of fun doing that. Now, he doesn’t have a lot of fun doing anything.’

Samuel looked at her. ‘I noticed he no longer does the things he enjoys. Like horseback riding. Why is that?’

Victoria had a distant look in her eyes. ‘There was an… incident a few years back that changed everything for us. This family has never been the same since.’

She let out a heavy sigh. ‘That’s why I invited you over. You are a happy person. Too happy in fact, the happiness and excitement just bubble out of you. I was hoping that you’d become friends and rub some of the happiness on him.’

They stopped before a portrait. It was a portrait of their family and Jayden looked about eleven or twelve. Samuel blinked in surprise at the painting. Something was strange.

‘Hold on, is Jayden smiling?’

Victoria chuckled at his incredulity. ‘Yes, he is.’

Samuel stared at the portrait in amazement. ‘I dunno but I always kinda thought he came out of the womb unsmiling.’

Victoria looked sadly at the portrait. Her voice was barely a whisper. ‘He wasn’t always like this you know. There was a time that he was the happiest child alive, so full of life and brightness. He always had a smile for everyone and even if he was sad, he would smile bravely through it.’

She turned to smile sadly at him. ‘He was like his father in that respect. Those two were thick as thieves, always laughing and playing about. Honestly, sometimes I didn’t know who was the child and who was the adult. I lived with two children.’

She smiled wistfully. ‘They used to do everything together and Roger spoiled the hell out of him. He could never say no to his little boy. Honestly, when I had to force him to punish Jayden I wondered who was really being punished. He would cry throughout the whole thing and in the end, Jayden would have to comfort him.’

A faraway look came into her eyes. ‘He was his light, the reason he breathed and lived. He protected him fiercely and loved him even more. He would never cease telling him that to. He used to wake up several times at night just to make sure his boy was okay. He would then stand there and stare so lovingly at him and tears would spring to his eyes. I can’t tell you the number of times I had to drag him back to bed.’

She chuckled at the memory that came to mind. ‘You know when I was weaning him and tried to let him cry it out, Roger would sit up in bed, tears in his eyes. Every cry seemed to send a dagger to his heart. I had to forcibly lock him out of the nursery and even then, he would sit at the door crying with Jayden. It was like I was weaning them both!’

She shook her head. ‘Do you know one time, just after I had given birth to Jayden, there was a flood. It swept him up and his father jumped in after him without a second thought knowing very well he couldn’t swim. He floundered his way to his son and picked him up, holding him high above the water whiles he drowned underneath. I was still weak from childbirth but I had to jump in and save them both.’

She smiled fondly as the memories came one after the other, shaking her head at some of them. Samuel glanced up at her with interest and turned to study the portrait. They looked so happy! Victoria was wearing her usual cold expression but you could see the pride in her eyes. Jayden stood by his father and you could see how close they were by their body language.

Samuel looked up at Victoria. ‘What happened?’

Victoria looked sadly at the painting one last time before leading Samuel away. ‘You should know that in the beginning, Jayden was his father’s son. Roger was always such a bright, happy, endlessly smiling man so full of joy it bubbled of him.’

She turned to smile at him. ‘Almost exactly like you in that regard. He always saw the bright side of life, never had a mean word to say and always saw the good in everyone. His happiness was contagious and you couldn’t help but smile whenever you were in his presence. Jayden was exactly like that.’

She sighed. ‘I on the other hand always had a trouble expressing emotions. I couldn’t feel things and was always so cold and distant. I wasn’t the ideal mother, I had trouble expressing my love for my son and in the beginning, I was worried that it would affect him. It wasn’t that I didn’t love him, I just didn’t know how to show it. I needn’t have worried though, Roger expressed his love more than enough for the both of us.’

They turned a dark corridor lined with portraits of the Mills ancestors.

‘Do you know what it’s like to watch your son slowly become everything you dislike about yourself but you are too powerless to stop it? Ever since the incident, I had to watch Jayden, the warm, bright, happy, and smiling-faced teenager become exactly like me. Cold, distant, cunning, calculating, and unfeeling.’

They climbed up another flight of stairs and turned down a wide hallway lined with suits of armour.

‘That’s why I want so badly for you two to become friends. I want your happiness to rub off on him. That joy, that brightness, that excitement for life, I want him to have that again. I don’t know, call it a mother’s intuition but I have a feeling that you are the one to make him happy again.’

They stepped into a corridor and the soft melodious sounds of a piano floated to them. The notes were light, disconsolate, and held a tinge of sadness.

Victoria looked in the direction of the music room. ‘He always comes here whenever he’s had an encounter with his father. He avoids him like the plague so it’s not often.’

Samuel stared in the direction she looked at and turned to her. ‘What makes you think that I’ll be able to help? In case you hadn’t notice Jayden can’t stand my presence and he doesn’t seem to like me no matter how hard I try.’

Victoria smiled softly to herself. ‘You think he doesn’t like you? Well, it may be true but he doesn’t dislike you either. Which is a huge deal because Jayden dislikes everyone. He seems to tolerate your presence too. You spent the whole of his birthday party by his side and you spent the night in his room. Still think he dislikes you?’

Samuel looked unsure. ‘He didn’t seem happy about it and he tried to get me to leave the entire time.’

Victoria gave him a knowing smile. ‘You know as well as I do that if Jayden really wanted to get rid of you he would have found a way to do it.’

Samuel’s face broke out in a happy smile. ‘So you’re saying I’m making progress?’

Victoria chuckled and nodded. ‘You are.’ She nodded in the direction of the music. ‘Now go and keep trying.’

Samuel nodded and walked to the music room.

‘Samuel.’

He paused and turned around.

‘Thank you for not giving up on him.’

Samuel nodded and smiled at her before opening the doors and stepping inside.

Victoria watched the doors close behind him and hoped in her heart of hearts that she was right and that this boy would finally be the one to make her son happy again.

He would, but not in the way any of them ever expected.

TO MAKE UP FOR THE LATE UPDATE HERE IS AN AESTHETIC OF MILLS MANOR!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I know, I know, I know! I deserve the hate, I’m a terrible person for not updating for so long and I’m really sorry about it. After my birthday and the triple update 1k birthday surprise I went through a bout of depression and couldn’t write.
I’m a bit better now so no worries and hopefully I’ll be updating more frequently now though I have end of semester exams in like a week.

I made up for it by an extra long chapter. This chapter is officially the longest in the book! You’re welcome and again I’m sorry.

In this chapter we got an insight into Jayden’s relationship with his father. What do you think about Mr. Mills?

Also, YAY!!!! Samuel and Jayden spent the night in the same room. Though not the same bed at least it’s progress :).

Lemme know what you think in the comments and don’t forget to light up that shy little star below if you enjoyed it xd.

😘.

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