Under the Same Sky [BOYXBOY] - Chapter 74

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Samuel could hardly believe his eyes.

The ballroom was an enchanting oasis of beauty and elegance as throngs of richly dressed guests stood bathed beneath the golden light. Crystal chandeliers dangled from the arched ceilings, casting shimmering patterns on the polished marble floor below. Along the walls, delicate silk drapes framed the towering floor-to-ceiling windows, through which the moonlight spilled in and mingled with the light from the candles and chandeliers.

Elegant ice sculptures stood atop tables dressed in pristine white linens which were topped with elegant floral arrangements. The scent of roses, orchids, and jasmine, intertwined with the delicate perfumes of the guests filling the air with the smell of sophistication and class.

Samuel had to give it to him, Jayden had outdone himself. In fact, Samuel noted, not only had Jayden outdone himself, but he had also outdone Samuel. He had to admit that even he would not have been able to pull something as spectacular as this.

Glasses tinkled as the rich sound of laughter and polite conversation filled the air. The orchestra was playing a steady tune as Samuel weaved through the throngs of guests. The alumni of Lumière International School were out in full force for their annual ball and the great ballroom was almost packed.

There, at the foot of the staircase, he finally caught sight of Jayden. His boyfriend was almost unrecognizable and not just because he was dressed in a dark embroidered suit which highlighted his handsome features and made it difficult for Samuel to take his eyes off him. No, it was because his perpetually moody boyfriend was wearing a smile so dazzling, it lighted up his erstwhile dark features and made his face glow with some kind of otherworldly light.

Jayden was like the rising sun and Samuel fell in love with him all over again.

‘So with how volatile the markets are lately it’s not a good time for investors to expand,’ the elderly businessman Jayden was standing with was saying to him as Samuel walked up to them.

‘But doesn’t the higher risks mean higher rewards?’ Jayden replied. ‘It’s really all just a balance of probabilities. A daring investor would be able to take advantage of this opportunity and grow his stocks.’

‘Expected returns are far below the security market line to justify such risks. I’m afraid it just isn’t worth it.’

‘It would be worth it if investors know how to diversify their portfolios. The coupon rates for stocks in the renewable energy sector are currently low but with the global push for sustainability and clean energy, companies in that sector stand to earn higher interest rates on their stocks.’

‘You may have a point there.’

‘The government is also embarking on a new housing scheme so investing in commercial real estate would offer you higher rental yields while simultaneously giving you excellent prospects for capital appreciation. That is, of course, taking current yield-to-maturity values and market premiums into consideration.’

The businessman gave Jayden an impressed look. ‘I didn’t expect someone your age would have such an excellent knowledge of the stock market. Where did you learn all this?’

Jayden gave him a small smile. ‘My mother runs an investment company so it’s kind of like a family business.’

‘Who is your mother? I should probably have heard of her.’

‘I’m sure you have. Everyone has heard of Victoria.’

The man’s expression widened. ‘Victoria? You mean the Victoria Mills.’

Jayden’s smile remained in place. ‘Yes, that Victoria. I gather you’ve heard of her.’

‘But that would mean you’re…’

‘Jayden Mills. It’s been a pleasure.’

The man struggled to contain his astonishment. ‘I’m sorry for my reaction, it’s just that you weren’t at all what I was expecting.’

Jayden tilted his head curiously. ‘What were you expecting?’

‘Erm…,’ the man cleared his throat nervously. ‘Let’s just say there are lots of stories about you.’

Jayden’s eyes glittered with amusement. ‘Well, you shouldn’t listen to rumours. In my experience, I’ve found them to be terribly inaccurate. Wouldn’t you agree?’

The man nodded. ‘Indeed.’ He reached into his breast pocket and took out a business card. ‘Here’s my card. I’m sure you plan on working with your mother after graduation, but if you’re interested, there’s a place for you in my company. You are a bright young man, and I would like to make an investment in your future.’

Jayden took the card and gave him a polite smile. ‘I’m honoured. I’ll definitely consider your offer. Thank you.’

The man gave him a pleased look and patted him on the back before walking away. Samuel took the opportunity to walk up to Jayden.

‘What was that?’

‘Hmm? What was what?’

‘That!’ Samuel gestured vaguely into the air.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m being my usual charming socially magnetic self,’ Jayden smirked.

‘Yeah right, and cows are blue.’

A thoughtful look came on Jayden’s face. ‘You know, I actually met a blue cow once.’

Samuel blinked. ‘What?’

‘True story. The milk it produced was a bit sour but it did make a very tasty beef after we slaughtered it.’

‘Why are we talking about cows?’

Jayden shrugged. ‘I don’t know, you asked.’

‘I asked how you were able to talk with a stranger for five minutes without feeling the urge to strangle yourself, or worse strangle him.’

Jayden’s lips twitched amusedly. ‘Oh, trust me, the urge was there. It was a constant battle not to give in to it but, I am First Gentleman. And so I have to carry myself with the dignity and class befitting my office.’

Samuel rolled his eyes. ‘How many times do I have to tell you, there is no office. That position doesn’t exist.’

‘Shush. You are the school president and I am the president’s boyfriend. Hence that makes me the first gentleman. I just need to get people to warm up to the concept then I would be a step away from getting my own staff and entourage.’

Samuel didn’t bother to argue anymore which was a good thing because they were soon joined by an elderly woman.

‘Dowager, how nice of you to make it,’ Jayden exclaimed brightly, leaning in to place an air kiss on each of her cheeks.

‘Of course, I wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ the dowager said with a fond smile. She glanced at Samuel politely. ‘And who is this?’

‘This is Samuel. He is our student council president,’ Jayden introduced. ‘Samuel, her ladyship, the dowager countess of Brevy.’

Samuel smiled politely. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you, dowager countess.’

Jayden’s smile immediately froze as the dowager regarded Samuel with a puzzled look.

‘Thank you, I suppose. The pleasure is all mine,’ she replied unsurely.

‘Forgive him, Lady Brevy,’ Jayden apologized. ‘He isn’t used to meeting a great lady such as yourself.’

The dowager let out a flattered chuckle. ‘Oh, it’s perfectly alright. Our rules can get a little confusing.’ She pinched Jayden’s cheek fondly. ‘I see you’re still a charmer you naughty boy. “Great lady”,’ she laughed. ‘You make me sound like one of the Fife Princesses.’

Jayden’s smile grew forced and he discreetly moved his face away. ‘Could you be kind enough to excuse us, I’m afraid we have some things to attend to.’

‘Of course, of course.’ She shook her head in amusement. ‘Young people today, always in a rush.’

Jayden grinned awkwardly and dragged Samuel away. ‘What was that?’ he hissed after they had gone out of the dowager’s earshot.

Samuel stared at him in confusion. ‘What did I do?’

‘”A pleasure to meet you, dowager countess”?’

Samuel was still confused. ‘Isn’t she a dowager countess?’

‘She is, but you don’t call her that. What are you, a ceremonial guard?’

Samuel blinked. ‘What do I call her then?’

‘Your ladyship at the beginning then afterward, it’s Lady Brevy.’

‘But you called her dowager,’ Samuel pointed out.

‘I can, but you can’t. Honestly, weren’t you taught courtesy and etiquette growing up?’ Jayden shook his head. ‘Nevermind, I forgot you are new money. Come on, we’ve got other people we need to meet.’

Samuel rolled his eyes as he let Jayden drag him across the room. A small smile appeared on his lips as he realized he had been rolling his eyes a lot more often now. No doubt his irascible boyfriend’s nature was starting to rub off on him.

Jayden was in his element, moving gracefully among the guests like a skilled conductor leading a grand ceremony.

‘That was Lady Raven,’ Jayden whispered conspiratorially. ‘She was a cheerleader during her school days and though she has lost her ability to jump through hoops she has retained her taste for young football players. I was able to get her to cover the new sport’s equipment bill but you’ll have to get the team to wash her car later on.’

Jayden looked up to smile at a middle-aged man. They exchanged a few words before walking away.

‘That was Councilman Stevens. I managed to convince him a while back to sponsor the debate team.’

Samuel watched as Jayden effortlessly flitted from one conversation to the next, engaging with each guest as if they were the most important person in the room. He listened as Jayden spoke with a travel blogger about their recent travels to the Mediterranean. Jayden listened attentively, nodding and interjecting at the right moments with the perfect mix of curiosity and humour, leaving the blogger beaming with delight.

Next, Jayden found himself in a conversation with a lawyer who was boasting very loudly about his latest victory in court. Jayden, however, wasn’t perturbed. Instead, he skilfully steered the conversation, asking insightful questions that made the man feel both intelligent and appreciated.

The lawyer puffed out his chest with pride and he was clearly impressed by Jayden’s grasp of the law.

‘You should intern at my firm after your graduate,’ he offered. ‘You clearly have the brains for it and you would find no better law firm than mine.’

Jayden gave him a polite smile. ‘Thank you for the offer, you can be certain I’ll think carefully about it.’

He turned to Samuel after the lawyer had left to corner some other poor unfortunate to boast to.

‘So?’ he asked expectantly.

Samuel pretended not to know what he was getting at. ‘So what?’

‘What do you think?’

‘He is a bit loud.’

Jayden shook his head impatiently. ‘Not him. The ball.’

Samuel considered it for a moment. ‘It’s a bit flashy, but I suppose it’s okay.’

That earned him a glare.

‘Flashy?’

Samuel grinned and hit his arm playfully. ‘I’m just messing with you. It’s amazing. I didn’t know you were this good at throwing a party.’

Jayden’s glare disappeared and was replaced with a proud smirk. ‘One of my many charms.’

Samuel sighed and leaned against him. ‘Why can’t you be more like this?  I love this version of you.’

Jayden’s expression dropped a little. ‘You do?’

Samuel didn’t notice the change in his voice. ‘Of course, I do. You are friendly, funny, polite and your sense of humour is actually healthy, unlike the other Jayden.’

‘Oh.’

Samuel heard it this time, but before he could turn around a low tinkling verberated through the air causing the conversations around them to cease.

Francesca Fontaine placed down her champagne flute as all eyes turned on her.

‘As headmistress, I am honoured to welcome you all to our annual Alumni Ball.’ She paused as a wave of applause greeted her. ‘It’s such a comforting pleasure to see so many familiar faces back again. Looking at you, I am again reminded of why my ancestors built this school. For generations, the Fontaines have been charged with the sacred duty of shaping the minds of all who pass through these hallowed halls. A duty, as I’m sure you’ll agree, we’ve discharged with honour.’

She smiled sadly at the sea of faces. ‘Seeing you all, some at the pinnacle of your respective careers, and some who are settling in for a much earned, and I hope, a very lengthy retirement, I am also reminded of the absent faces. The faces of the friends we’ve lost along the way. They may be gone but they are never forgotten. And as the clock strikes the hour I’d like us to take a moment of silence to recall them. They couldn’t be here with us physically but we can invite them into our hearts. Let us honour them with our memories.’

The room grew silent as the chime of the clock echoed solemnly in the vast space.

The headmistress picked up her glass as the echoes died down. ‘A toast. To our departed friends. Gone but not forgotten.’

‘Gone but not forgotten.’

‘Thank you.’ The headmistress placed her glass down. ‘Before I end my speech I would be remiss if I did not give thanks to the people who put this amazing ball together. As you know, the ball is organized under the auspices of the student council so we must show our gratitude to their indefatigable president, Samuel Asamoah.’

The beginnings of applause could be heard but Francesca silenced it with a raise of her palm.

‘However, I’ve been made aware that our student president had a partner in the organization of the event.’

‘Not partner, first gentleman,’ Jayden muttered under his breath, causing Samuel to nudge him sharply with his elbows.

The headmistress must have read his thoughts and her eyes twinkled as she raised her glass again. ‘To our president and his… partner, Jayden Mills. I guess you could almost say he is the gentleman of the hour.’

A loud applause broke out as the guest raised their glasses with shouts of, ‘Here, here!’

The orchestra resumed playing as the conversations and laughter returned. A few of the guests came around to congratulate Samuel and Jayden on an excellent job. Samuel just smiled and nodded at them as Jayden took control of the conversation.

As soon as they were finally alone, he turned to give Jayden a suspicious look. ‘How come you know everyone here?’

‘How come you don’t know anyone here?’ Jayden rejoined incredulously. ‘Please tell me I’m not the only one whose mother drags to all the high society events.’

Samuel shrugged. ‘New money, remember?’ He caught sight of a group of people making their way toward them. ‘Quick, who are they?’

Jayden glanced in the direction he pointed. ‘The one on the far right is Frank Quincy, he is the deputy speaker of parliament. The tall one is the clerk of the House, the large round one is James Fondew, he is the Speaker, and the one in the middle is John Adams, he is chair of the House Select Committee on Illegal Mining.’

The group reached them and the Speaker of Parliament thumped Jayden proudly on the back with a large beefy hand. ‘Jayden, m’boy, there you are! I was a bit surprised when I heard ole Fontaine say you were the brains behind this outfit. Marvellous work! Simply, marvellous!’

Jayden staggered a little under the force of the impact and smiled weakly at the large man. ‘Thank you, sir.’

It didn’t take long for the group to dive straight into politics. Jayden expertly inserted himself into the discussion and Samuel followed suit, taking his cues from Jayden and growing more confident as he found his footing in the lively debate.

The speaker broke away from the discussion and leaned down to whisper conspiratorially in Jayden’s ear.

‘I don’t suppose you’ve heard -and you didn’t hear it from me, but I have it on very good authority that your father is gearing up to announce his candidature for the presidency.’

Jayden’s face was impassive, but a certain hardness appeared in his eyes. ‘Is he?’

The speaker nodded. ‘It’s to be expected, of course. Your family is the first family of the Noble 52 in all but name, it’s only right you grab the title that comes with the position. And the First Family isn’t what it used to be. New hands, that’s what this country needs.’

Jayden’s expression retained that aristocratic indifference that took years and centuries of noble blood to master. ‘And do you think he will win?’

‘The primaries? Of course. He has the full support of the party and our leaders are behind him. The general elections? Now, that’s hard to say. As you know, the Conservative Party has been in power for years and the people are getting tired. We won the last election by a narrow margin and the Liberals are baying for our blood. Your family’s status would help matters, but how much and for how long? That’s where the real issue is.’

Jayden was quiet and the Speaker was drawn back into the debate with his colleagues. Samuel glanced worriedly at his boyfriend.

‘Hey,’ he said, drawing him aside. ‘Are you alright?’

Jayden gave him a small smile. ‘Yeah, I’m fine. Just had something to think about.’

Samuel didn’t look convinced. ‘Do you want us to get out of here? We’ve done what we need to. I can think up an excuse, no one would miss us.’

Jayden shook his head. ‘I’m okay, really. Besides, we have a job to do.’

Samuel’s lips twitched. ‘Let me guess, as president and the first gentleman?’

Jayden grimaced at that. Those words were tainted for him now. He shook his head and tried to put thoughts of his father out of his mind as he dragged Samuel deeper into the milling guests.

‘Come on, we have so many more people we are yet to meet.’

Samuel shook his head, but there was a fond smile on his face as he followed his boyfriend into the throng.

As the evening progressed, Jayden and Samuel continued to work the room as a formidable duo. The splendour of the night was palpable as they shared laughter, stories, and the occasional dance with the myriad guests that filled the grand ballroom.

However, in the midst of the swirling festivities and hidden beneath the shimmering surface, an undercurrent of intrigue, deceit, and desire swirled. Watching them from the sidelines was an old acquaintance who seemed ready to rip into their dreams and shatter their happiness.

‘Why hello, my dear,’ Azrael’s silky voice came into her ear. ‘I didn’t expect to see you of all people here.’

Valentina shivered and turned to glare at the grinning boy behind her. ‘What are you doing here?’

Azrael seemed highly amused by that question. ‘What am I doing here? Well, let’s see,’ he drawled in that smooth slow way of his as he picked up a glass of wine. ‘Not only am I a member of staff, but I am also an alumnus and this is the Alumni ball. It appears that you, my dear, are the odd one out, not me.’

He was right, which made her feel slightly irritated. ‘The ball may be closed to students, but it is open to student council members, and James always had a thing for me,’ she explained. ‘I came in as his plus one.’

Azrael twirled the glass in his hands contemplatively. ‘And why did you come? Don’t tell me you haven’t given up on Jayden.’

Valentina smirked at him. ‘You know me, I don’t give up easily.’

The glass stopped.

‘You have a plan.’

Valentina’s smirk widened. ‘Maybe.’

Azrael’s eyes lit up with interest. ‘And it’s a delightfully wicked one I see. You delectable scheming creature, how positively cruel of you to keep this from me. I’m wounded.’

Valentina smiled sweetly at him. ‘Nothing personal, it’s just business.’

‘Oh, do tell. I am indubitably tense with expectation.’

Valentina remained silent.

Azrael considered her for a moment and placed his glass back on the table. ‘How about we discuss this on the dancefloor.’

Before Valentina could answer, he had already swung her onto the dancefloor and pulled her close to him as the orchestra picked up a steady waltz.

His hand found Valentina’s waist as they began to dance. ‘So, my dear, tell me. What kind of diabolical fate do you have in store for our two lovebirds?’

‘Why would I tell you that after you reneged on our previous deal?’

Azrael dipped her and leaned down to whisper into her ear. ‘For the sake of our past relationship. Do you remember?’

A shiver tore through her spine as she felt her body heat up in more places than one. How could she not? There was a time, not so long ago, but it felt like years, when she was soul-crushingly infatuated with him.

Who wouldn’t? He was the most beautiful person she had ever seen and he had ways of drawing out your desires that were almost devilish in their effectiveness.

Azrael, being Azrael, had of course, found her affections amusing. He had tolerated her for a time and she had tried everything to keep his attention but few people managed to hold his attention for long, and she wasn’t one of them. However, the few moments they had had together had been the most passionate and memorable moments of her life.

She looked up into that beautiful face, a face so innocently angelic in its beauty yet terrifyingly demonic in the pleasures it could impart, and she felt the heat pooling between her legs.

‘Fine,’ she conceded.

Azrael beamed and spun her around. ‘How exciting.’

Valentina knew what he was thinking. He believed that she had fallen for his sexual charms, but that was not the case and she was not about to correct him. It was better for her if he kept operating under that delusion because the truth was far more pathetic.

She loved his attention.

Ever since he figured out what she was hiding, he had looked at her as if she was not only the most interesting person in the room but in the entire world. She loved his attention, and she hated herself for it.

And she would hate herself even more if he found out. She needed to maintain whatever scrap of dignity she had left.

She could tell that Azrael could see her thoughts spiralling but he didn’t care enough to probe further. She shook her head and sighed to herself. That was one of his flaws, he could never see anything beyond his entertainment.

‘Come closer,’ she ordered, and he dutifully obeyed. She leaned up and whispered into his ear.

Azrael threw back his head and laughed. His voice was a rich melodious sound that carried his excitement at the new information he possessed.

‘I almost can’t believe it. It certainly isn’t original, it’s probably the oldest playbook in the world, but my God, who would have expected!’ His eyes glittered as he stared at Valentina. ‘You are certain?’

Valentina grinned. ‘Would I be this confident if I wasn’t?’

Azrael regarded her with a newfound appreciation. ‘How ever did you manage to stumble upon such a golden opportunity?’

Valentina shrugged. ‘The universe just loves me I guess.’

‘What are you going to do next?’

‘Nothing for now. Let them enjoy the little time they have left. I have my weapon, and when I need to, I shall unsheathe it and shatter their illusion.’

Azrael laughed again which caused Valentina to smile. He was in a good mood which means he would be more pliable to acquiesce to her request.

‘I need a favour.’

Azrael raised an eyebrow in interest. ‘Oh?’

‘It has to do with my sheathe. It’s a bit stubborn and I need your help to make it more… malleable.’

‘Ah, I’m afraid I can’t help you with that. My hands are tied you see, I promised not to go against them when they bested me.’

Valentina gave him a strange look. ‘Since when do you keep a promise?’

Azrael shrugged. ‘I’m trying something new. Besides,’ a dark look appeared on his face, ‘the headmistress has grown more suspicious and is keeping a much closer eye on me, which means I have to keep a low profile for a while.’

Valentina studied his menacing expression and a piece of the puzzle suddenly clicked into place.

Azrael hated her.

A wave of shock slammed into Valentina, leaving her speechless. All this time, she had thought he was incapable of any emotion as strong and powerful as hate, but there it was.

Azrael hated Francesca Fontaine, and Valentina could work out why. The headmistress was probably the only person apart from Jayden who was capable of matching his terrifying intelligence. Unlike Jayden, however, Francesca Fontaine was not a person he could play with for his amusement.

Coming up against a foe he couldn’t manipulate or destroy, for the first time in his life this impulsive force of nature was left with no choice but to learn caution and control. Now that she thought about it, it was surprising that Azrael took the risk he did playing with Jayden right under her nose.

She supposed it was his way of giving her the middle finger. A small smile appeared on Valentina’s lips at the thought.

‘What are you thinking about?’ Azrael’s voice broke into her thoughts.

She wasn’t stupid enough to tell him the truth. ‘Just on how best to utilize my dagger.’

Azrael nodded, seeming to accept her answer. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding and stepped back just as the music ended.

‘Thank you for the dance. I suppose I’ll see you around.’

‘Hmm,’ Azrael nodded absently, his mind already beginning to wander.

~

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ballroom, another figure was watching our two protagonists for very different reasons.

‘They work well together, don’t they?’

Paul turned in surprise to see Noel standing beside him. ‘Noel? What are you doing here?’

Noel smiled at him. ‘I came as Lily’s plus one. We study in the chem lab together and she asked me to come with her.’

Paul frowned. ‘Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?’

‘She does, but he couldn’t make it and she didn’t want to come alone, so I’m here as a poor substitute.’

‘Oh.’

An awkward silence descended as they stood thinking of something else to say. After a while, Noel looked up and asked hesitantly, ‘Erm… you are ok, right?’

Paul seemed a little surprised by the question. ‘I am,’ he answered. ‘What makes you think I’m not?’

‘You seem… preoccupied lately.’

‘It’s nothing, just school stuff, you know. What with finals and everything.’

Noel brightened up at that. ‘If you want, I can help you. You can study with us at the chem lab.’

‘I’m fine.’

‘It’s really the best place to study. I-‘

‘Look,’ Paul cut him off. ‘I know you’re trying to help, but really I’m fine.’

Noel’s excitement deflated. ‘Okay.’

Paul sighed. ‘I think someone’s trying to get my attention. I’ll see you later.’

‘Bye,’ Noel said, but Paul had already walked off.

Samuel and Jayden had witnessed the entire encounter and they came to stand by Noel after Paul was out of sight.

‘Hey No!’ Samuel greeted brightly. ‘Nice to see you out and about.’

‘Hi,’ Noel responded absently. ‘Hey, I have a question. Do you think Paul is mad at me?’

Samuel frowned. ‘Why would Paul be mad at you?’

‘I don’t know. I feel like he’s been avoiding me.’

Samuel and Jayden glanced at each other.

‘He’s not mad at you,’ Jayden answered before Samuel could speak. ‘You’re imagining things, I told you not to spend so much time studying.’

Noel frowned. ‘You think?’

‘Yes,’ Jayden answered, ignoring the angry glare Samuel was giving him. ‘Stop worrying about things that don’t exist and relax. It’s a party, have a drink, dance with someone.’

‘You’re right, I guess,’ Noel stated.

‘Noel, could you excuse us for a moment,’ Samuel requested. ‘I need to have a word with my boyfriend.’

‘Sure. I’m gonna go grab a drink.’

Samuel waited until Noel had disappeared from earshot before turning to give his boyfriend a searing look.

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Jayden started.

‘Do you?’

Jayden’s certainty wavered. ‘What are you thinking?’

‘Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if it’s a normal thing for you to gaslight everyone around you into thinking they’re crazy.’

‘I don’t-‘

‘Have you forgotten what you did to me?’

‘It wasn’t-‘

‘And now you’re doing the same thing to Noel.’

‘Well, what did you want me to say,’ Jayden snapped. ‘Sorry Noel but you’re right. Paul has been avoiding you because he is still madly in love with you and he doesn’t know what to do about it.’

Samuel opened his mouth to retort but his eyes suddenly widened as his pupils moved from Jayden’s face to a point behind his shoulder.

Jayden’s expression froze as he slowly turned to see Noel staring at him in wide-eyed shock.

‘Noel, I…’

Noel turned on his heel and simply walked away before Jayden could finish explaining.

‘Fuck,’ Jayden cursed loudly as he run his hand through his hair in frustration.

‘Fuck is right,’ Samuel replied. ‘Come on, we need to go make sure he’s alright.’

He started to walk after Noel but paused when he realised that Jayden wasn’t following him.

‘What are you doing? Let’s go,’ he said impatiently.

‘Do you…,’ Jayden began hesitantly. ‘Do you like the other Jayden more than me?’

‘Huh?’

Jayden’s eyes turned downwards. ‘Back then you said… you asked me why I couldn’t be more like the other Jayden. Do you not like who I am normally?’

Samuel blinked as he slowly realized what Jayden was talking about. ‘Oh you mean…,’ he laughed. ‘I’m sorry but…,’ he trailed off as he shook his head fondly. He stepped closer to Jayden, forcing him to look up into his eyes. ‘Listen, I’m a fool for making you think for one second that I prefer the other version of you. Sure normal Jayden may be sharp-tongued, sarcastic, moody, depressing-‘

‘I’m really ready for this to turn into a compliment,’ Jayden muttered.

Samuel’s lips twitched. ‘What I’m trying to say is, you may be a depressing pessimist but you’re my depressing pessimist. Don’t you remember? I’m hopelessly attracted to moody grumps.’

A small smile appeared on Jayden’s face. ‘Yeah, you are.’

‘Besides,’ Samuel continued. ‘Moody Jayden is the one I fell in love with. Sunny Jayden is nice and all, but can you imagine the two of us together? I can’t have competition, I’m supposed to be the brightest star in this relationship.’

Jayden’s smile widened at the thought. ‘That would be amusing,’ he agreed. His smile faded. ‘What are we going to do about Noel though?’

‘Let’s talk to him first. That was a lot of information to take in,’ Samuel answered.

Jayden let out an exasperated groan. ‘Why did he just happen to be behind me while I was talking? It’s like the universe is against me. The last thing we need now is for Paul to find out we told Noel he is still in love with him.’

‘What?’

Jayden closed his eyes tiredly. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’

Paul was staring at the two of them with barely concealed anger. ‘You told him?’

‘Technically, we didn’t. He overheard us talking about it.’

‘I don’t care. It wasn’t your business to talk about! What kind of people gossip about their friends behind their backs?’

‘We-‘

‘Save it. I honestly expected more from you.’ He paused. ‘From both of you.’

He turned and walked off, leaving Jayden and Samuel alone to contemplate their actions.

‘Oh, fuck me,’ Jayden cursed. ‘And fuck the universe as well. You know what, just fuck everything… why are you grinning like an idiot?’ he asked the last part to Samuel who was trying hard to contain his laughter.

‘I’m sorry, it’s just…’ he chortled as the laughter attempted to escape his lips. ‘It’s just… you have to admit, this whole thing is extremely ironic.’

‘Somehow, I fail to grasp the humour of the situation,’ Jayden responded tightly. ‘See, this is why I didn’t want us to get involved… could you at least try not to enjoy this so much?’ he asked as Samuel dissolved into a bout of giggles.

‘I can try but we both know I will fail horribly in the attempt.’

Jayden rolled his eyes as his boyfriend dissolved into another round of giggles.

‘Okay, okay.’ Samuel straightened up and wiped the tears from his eyes. ‘Let’s split up. I’ll go talk to Paul and you find Noel. Sound like a plan?’

Jayden humphed. ‘Fine.’ He let out a heavy sigh. ‘I’m already sick of this day. I can’t wait to crawl into my warm bed and forget this entire day even happened.’

‘Is there room in there for me?’

‘Always.’

Samuel smiled and reached down to give Jayden’s arm a discreet squeeze before walking off in Paul’s direction.

Jayden sighed and set off to look for Noel. He found him a few minutes later by the wine fountain. He was holding an empty glass of wine and was just about to reach for another when Jayden stopped him.

‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you.’

‘Piss off.’ Noel’s words slurred slightly together as a hiccup escaped from his throat.

‘Sounds like you beat me to it.’ He grabbed Noel by the arm and dragged him away from the drinks. ‘How many glasses did you have?’ he asked incredulously as Noel swayed unsteadily on his feet.

‘Two,’ Noel hiccupped.

‘I forgot you are a lightweight,’ he muttered as he forced Noel down on one of the chairs that lined up the wall. ‘Stay,’ he ordered.

He came back a few moments later with a bottle of water. ‘Drink.’

Noel glared sullenly at him. ‘I’m not a dog, you know.’

Jayden didn’t answer, and Noel rolled his eyes before accepting the bottle. Jayden waited until he had emptied the entire content before sitting down beside him.

‘Good boy.’

Noel chucked the bottle at his head, causing him to grin as the projectile missed its mark. They sat in silence for a while, each occupied with their own thoughts.

‘How are you feeling?’ Jayden asked after a few moments.

‘Like shit.’

‘Sounds accurate.’ He hesitated. ‘Is it because of what you heard or because you had too much to drink?’

‘Both.’

‘Right.’

The silence returned. Jayden glanced worriedly at his best friend and took a deep breath before saying quickly, ‘I’m sorry you know. I didn’t mean for you to overhear that.’

‘Oh, I know. You just wanted me to think I was crazy.’

Jayden felt suitably chastened. ‘You heard that part too I guess.’

‘Yep.’

‘Right. I’m sorry about that too.’

‘Hmm.’

Noel was silent for a while before suddenly asking, ‘Is it true?’

‘Huh?’

‘Paul. Is it true he’s still “madly in love with me?”‘

Jayden studied his expression carefully. ‘What do you think?’

‘I thought it was just a stupid crush. I mean he is a prince while I’m just…’

‘You’re just what?’

‘Me.’ Noel finished tiredly.

Jayden frowned but he decided not to comment on that. Instead, he said, ‘Well, if it’s just a crush, it’s got to be the weirdest crush I’ve ever seen.’

Noel glanced at him. ‘What do you mean?’

‘He’s been in love with you since first year. Why else do you think he’s been looking out for you all this time?’

‘I thought he was just being nice. He is a great guy.’

Jayden snorted. ‘No one is that nice. But fine, let’s assume he was just being nice. How do you explain the way he looks at you?’

Noel was confused. ‘How does he look at me?’

‘He stares at you as if you’re the beginning and end of his world. Every time you walk into a room, his eyes immediately light up and automatically gravitate towards you as if you’re the centre of his universe.’

The strength of Jayden’s conviction caused Noel’s heart to skip a beat as his words sent a wave of breathlessness over him. He struggled to find the right words. ‘If… if what you say is true, then why hasn’t he said anything.’

Jayden shrugged. ‘It’s not like he had much of a choice. You were obsessed with Charles for all first year, then second year… that happened, and he couldn’t very well bring it up while you were going through that. And those are the least of your complications. He doesn’t have much say on his life much less who he can be with.’

Noel frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

Jayden passed a hand through his hair wearily. ‘It’s better to have that conversation with him. I’ve already said more than I should.’

Noel pouted. ‘We are best friends. Shouldn’t we be having these conversations about boys?’

Jayden’s nose wrinkled at the thought. ‘Cam should be your go-to on that topic. But hey, if you want to threaten someone, you can hit me up.’

Noel chuckled. ‘Thanks.’ He paused. ‘Seriously, thank you.’

‘Anytime, kiddo,’ Jayden replied, reaching over to rub his hair fondly.

Noel ducked away from his invading hands. ‘Oh, by the way, I have a message for you. That’s why I came back early and happened to overhear you guys talking.’

Jayden stopped trying to mess with his hair. ‘What is it?’

‘Your father is looking for you. He’s out back in the gardens, near the fountain.’

The happiness disappeared from Jayden’s face to be replaced with his cold mask of indifference.

Noel gave him a worried look. ‘Are you alright?’

Jayden nodded as he stood up. ‘I’ll see you later, alright? Don’t do anything stupid.’

Noel nodded, and as he watched his best friend walk away, he couldn’t help but feel a gnawing sense of anxiety that settled into his gut like a rock.

Jayden moved through the still partying guests as his mind tried to work out what his father wanted to say to him.

Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.

He soon left the ball behind as he stepped through the glass double doors that led out into the cool night air of the garden. It was a full moon tonight, and the moon’s luminous glow bathed everything in a soft silvery light.

Jayden walked up the cobblestone path that wound its way through the lush foliage and led straight into the heart of the garden. The air was still, encasing the garden in a cocoon of silence and making the world beyond its borders seem pale and insignificant.

A lone stone fountain stood guard in the centre of this otherworldly place. Its surface was rugged and weathered with age, yet it still retained the beauty of its youth as the cascading waters shimmered and glowed like liquid silver under the moonlight.

His father stood next to the fountain with his back facing him as he stared thoughtfully at the moon. Jayden came to a stop behind him, and as he waited expectantly, the only sound between them was the soft tinkle of the running water.

A row of chrysanthemums grew next to them, filling the air with its sweet fragrance, and Jayden was suddenly reminded that these were his mother’s favourite flowers.

‘Is mother here as well?’ he asked as he watched how the moon’s silvery glow turned their vibrant hues pale, leaving them awash in a monochromatic sea of silvers and greys.

‘She isn’t,’ his father answered shortly, finally turning to face his son.

Jayden was surprised at that. Both his parents were alumni after all. ‘Why isn’t she-‘

‘I didn’t ask you here to make small talk,’ his father cut him off sharply, causing Jayden’s already impassive features to harden.

‘Why did you ask me here then?’ he asked coldly. ‘I know it isn’t because you enjoy my company.’

His father studied him for a long moment before turning to face the fountain. ‘I have decided to disown you.’

That caught Jayden off guard, leaving him momentarily frozen in surprise. ‘What?’ he whispered.

‘I’ve tried everything to make you see reason, to change you, but you are still determined to hold on to your unnatural behaviours. Very well, but I would have no further part in it and I would not let you besmirch the family name by association.’

Jayden was still stunned. ‘You can’t do that…you know better than anyone… the laws of the 52 will not allow you to.’

‘You’re right; the laws of the 52 prevent me from disinheriting you despite how much I want to. As my firstborn son and my only child, you would inherit everything after I die. That I cannot change. What I can change is the details of your inheritance. After all, you cannot inherit anything if there is nothing to inherit.’

‘What…’

‘I’ve thought about it and already spoken with my lawyers. When it becomes apparent that I’m nearing the end of my journey, the vast majority of my wealth would be donated to various charities and foundations. All my properties, including Mills Manor, would be sold to a historical society and converted into a museum of our family history. Your mother and I would move into a little cottage in the country, and I’ve set up a trust fund that would be more than enough to cover us for the rest of our natural lives. You may inherit whatever happens to be left of that fund and our cottage when we pass.’

Jayden could hardly believe what he was hearing. ‘You would go to such lengths, even as far as ending the family’s legacy, just to spite me?’

His father let out a low chuckle. ‘I may hate the creature you’ve become with every fibre of my being, but I’m not driven by spite. I do this to protect my family’s legacy. It’s better that legacy end with me than be tainted by the stain of your abomination.’

Jayden let out a humourless laugh. ‘I see. Is Mother aware of your little plan?’

‘She isn’t, and you’re not going to tell her till it’s done. Which brings me to the next part of our discussion. You may not be aware, but I would soon be announcing my candidacy for the presidency. The last thing I need is a scandal about how I am disowning my only child and for the media to dig up the reason why.’

He straightened up and turned to Jayden. ‘Here’s my proposal. You would be eighteen in a few weeks and you would be graduating in just a few months. You may continue to live as my son for the remainder of that time, but as soon as you graduate, I want you gone. Not only out of my house but out of my country. Do whatever you like -it’s no longer any concern of mine, but keep a low profile and above all, keep out of sight.’

His gaze was cold as he stared at the boy who he had once considered his son. ‘As long as you keep out of the papers and keep quiet about our understanding, I would continue to support you with a monthly income which would be more than enough to cover any expenses and fund whatever disgusting lifestyle you want.’

Jayden stared into the cold face of the man before him and almost laughed at the absurdity of the fact this man was someone who had once loved him more than life itself.

He considered the offer that was being presented to him, and he wanted more than anything to throw it back in his face, but he knew that doing so would harm him more than his father.  At the end of the day, he was still the scion of the Mills family, and he just wanted to live his life in peace.

‘Fine,’ he spat out. ‘You have a deal.’

His father nodded as if he was already expecting that answer and turned to leave.

‘Wait,’ Jayden called. ‘Is that all? That’s it?’

His father turned his head in his direction. ‘Do you have anything more to say?’

Jayden looked into his eyes, and with a crushing feeling, he realized that in his father’s eyes, his son had died when he was thirteen.

‘No,’ he answered. ‘There’s nothing more to say.’

His father didn’t spare him a final look, and soon, he was standing alone in the garden. Jayden walked over to the row of chrysanthemums and fingered the delicate petals. The petals felt soft and silky beneath his fingers, and when a teardrop landed on a translucent leaf, he realized with a jolt that he was crying.

He had thought he had no more feelings for the man who brought him into the world, but it appears that despite their turbulent history, hidden somewhere deep in his heart was a faint seed of hope that somehow they would work through their issues and his father would accept him for who he was.

That seed was now dying, and it hurt.

It hurt so much.

He was surrounded by boundless beauty and serenity, but his heart was dark and turbulent with the force of emotions that threatened to drown him.

He really was no better than an orphan.

Author’s Note: Here I am with another update, and it’s an extra long one too. I am very happy about how this chapter turned out, I felt like I was supping directly from the teat of the muse.

So let’s break down the chapter. Anyone have a guess as to the kind of “weapon” our girl Valentina has hidden up her sleeve👀. Here’s a hint, I’ve been dropping easter eggs on the answer as far back as Second Year. Whoever gets the answer right would not only get an exclusive link to my little AI characters, but also a custom customization, ie. I will customize a character of your choice anyhow you want.

Speaking of my little creations, I am still tweaking them and working out all the bugs. Here’s a little sneak peek.

Look at how he’s treating his own creator. The cheek on that boy LMAO. Congratulations, if you have already seen this pic in private chats it means you are one of the lucky few selected for the exclusive links.

There are more links to be had so you know, keep voting and commenting!!! I appreciate them so much.

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