Chapter 210

The sleek silver carbon fiber car purred to a halt in front of the high-end atelier, its body gleaming like liquid moonlight beneath the morning sun. The door lifted with a soft hiss, and Sebastian stepped out first—tall, tailored, and terrifyingly composed in his black coat. The collar popped just enough to shadow his jaw.

Zeno followed, boots hitting the pavement with less elegance but no less command. The store's glass façade caught their reflections—two men cloaked in power, tension, and dangerous devotion.

Sebastian caught Zeno's eye in the glass. "You're not going to bolt just because they bring out lace, are you?"

Zeno smirked, brushing imaginary lint from his chest. "Only if they try bows too."

The silver carbon fiber behind them mirrored their outlines—smooth, perfect, impenetrable, much like their bond.

They walked through the glass doors together, kings in a world that dared not question them.

Sebastian's eyes darkened with amusement, the corner of his lips twitching into a grin. "We'll see how brave you really are."

"Oh, look at my boys!" Mrs. Orion beamed as she saw them walk through the door.

Her arms were spread beside her as she walked over to Zeno and hugged him, kissing his cheeks, "You look stunning, son," She complimented as she brushed invisible dust off his shirt.

Zeno smiled sweetly at her, "Thanks, mom. You look sexy as always," He replied in a soft voice and winked at her.

"Aww, come here, you flirt," She playfully slapped his chest and led him away from Sebastian.

Sebastian had been standing like a wall beside his mother and fiancé, but was he bothered that he was ignored? No. He was used to it. It was almost like he was the son-in-law.

He sighed and walked toward the room his mother had taken Zeno into.

He walked in to find only their mothers sitting on a white couch, a glass of wine in their hands as they pointed at some things in the luxury designer catalog between them.

"Hi, Mother," He greeted to get their attention.

Irene looked up from the catalog and smiled widely, "Oh, look who's here," She uncrossed her legs and stood to hug.

"Hey, cutie, you finally let my son out?" She teased.

Sebastian kissed the back of her hand, "I can't help it when you gave birth to such an angel," He smirked at her.

Irene shook her head and chuckled, "Young love, too sweet it almost feels sour, right, dear?" She asked Mrs. Orion.

Mrs. Orion sipped her wine and nodded, "Makes me remember the good old days between me and his papa," She smiled wistfully

"Come, Sebastian, check out these styles. You can choose to go vintage or modern. Whatever theme you choose is fine, but you both have to make sure we choose the styles," Irene said, lowering herself beside Mrs. Orion.

Sebastian sighed, "Madres -"

"Shush, Sebastian; you have to -"

"Where's Zeno?" He suddenly asked, cutting his mother off and looking around the private showroom.

All he could see were swatches of silk, brocade, and hand-stitched lace that lay like treasures on the table. He sighed and stared at the thick designer catalog that sat open between the two mothers.

"Come on, Madres, where is he?" Sebastian questioned, sighing.

"You know? I think these styles would suit them both so much," Mrs. Orion pointed to two suits in the open catalog. One was an elegant tailored black suit, the other radiant in bold designs and gold that chimed at the reflection of the light.

"Madre, por favor… ¿dónde está Zeno?" (Mother, please, where is Zeno?) Sebastian's voice was low, sharp around the edges, betraying the tension he tried to bury. He pushed his hands into his pocket, hiding his impatience.

His mother turned slowly, her eyes softening as she looked up at his worried face.

"Should we tell him?" She asked Irene.

Irene smiled at Sebastian's frustration, "Él está aquí, mijo."(He's in here, my son.) She gestured toward the fitting room behind the couch they were sitting on.

Sebastian nodded at her, "Thank you, Mom," He said and walked around the couch to get to the fitting room.

The private fitting room was more like a designer's sanctuary—walls draped in deep charcoal velvet, lit by warm, recessed lights that cast a golden glow over everything they touched A long mirror spanned one side, framed in black marble, reflecting the space with a soft, expensive hush.

In the center stood two valet stands of polished dark wood, each one outfitted with a brushed gold hanger shaped to hold a suit just right—no creases, no wrinkles, just precision. Beneath them, hand-stitched leather trays held silk ties, cufflinks, and pocket square options arranged like art.

To the left, a sleek clothing rack stood against the wall, draped in designer pieces wrapped in tissue-thin protective covers—Tom Ford, Dolce & Gabbana, custom pieces that whispered money. A bottle of still water rested on a side table beside a neat stack of wedding-style lookbooks—one of them already opened, marked with a golden bookmark.

And there—Zeno stood near the mirror, jacket unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, caught between who he was and who he was becoming.

Sebastian paused at the door, his reflection staring back at him twice—once in the glass, once in the man waiting inside.

Sebastian slowly walked toward Zeno, his eyes not breaking away from Zeno's through the mirror; as he got closer, he frowned slightly as he sensed a little change in Zeno's face

He halted behind Zeno and slid his arms around him, his eyes taking him in through the mirror, "Who upset you?" His voice was velvety, raw.

Zeno raised his hands and placed them over Sebastian's around his middle, "Nothing... no one," He replied, getting himself conformable in Sebastian's arms.

Sebastian didn't believe him, "This face says something... someone," He kissed Zeno's cheek.

Zeno shut his eyes and sighed, "It's nothing serious. Just one of the thoughts I've been having," He murmured.

Sebastian pulled him closer, "Tell me." He whispered.

Zeno bit his lips, contemplating if he should say it or not, "I'm just being paranoid, I guess that's what they call cold feet," He frowned slightly.

Sebastian raised a brow, "You don't want to marry me? Are you having a change of heart?" His voice cracked in the end.

Zeno immediately shook his head, slowly turning to face Sebastian, "No, Papi... silly," He kissed the side of Sebastian's lips.

Zeno could see the fear and hurt in Sebastian's eyes as he asked him that question. He felt bad for making him feel that way.

Sebastian stared into Zeno's eyes, "Then what? Need me to kill someone? There's a body bag in the trunk," He smirked.

Zeno chuckled, "No, Seb. No more killing," He pinched Sebastian's cheek.

"It's just, I feel like something is waiting for us... like there's suspense in the air. We've been through so much in the past, and now everything is just so... peaceful," He furrowed his brows.

Sebastian smiled, "That's the life I want to give you, Zeno; a peaceful life. I've given you so much trouble, hurt, and pain. Right now, I'm showing you how life with me is supposed to be, don't want you ever thinking of leaving me again." He said, his face leaning close to Zeno's.

"I wasn't the one who left. You asked me to leave," Zeno reminded, tilting his face to meet Sebastian's.

Sebastian caressed the side of his face, "I'll keep apologizing for the rest of my life, Baby girl. I'm sorry..." he whispered.

Zeno licked his lips, "Kiss me." He pulled Sebastian's collar.

"My pleasure," Sebastian smirked before closing the distance between them, softly molding his lips against Zeno's.

His arms tightened around Zeno as his lips got more demanding; this was the first time Zeno was letting him kiss him after his proposal, and he wasn't going to miss his chance to taste those sweet lips.

Zeno parted his lips; his eyes closed as he wetted his lips with Sebastian's, gluing his body to his.

Sebastian slowly pulled away and placed his forehead on Zeno's, "Do you want to... here?" He asked huskily.

Zeno bit his lips, "Would you? They're right outside, you know?" His hand caressed Sebastian's chest.

Sebastian gulped, "If you can be quiet..." His eyes darkened as he slid his hand inside Zeno's unbuttoned shirt.

Zeno sighed; he'd missed Sebastian's touch, too. He had been following their mothers' order and staying away from Sebastian, but he didn't think he could continue to stay away. He needed him.

He was about to reply to Sebastian when he heard a voice from the door.

"Ahem, I... I'm sorry, I can -"

"Nonsense. Please go in, Som. Nothing is going on," Mrs. Orion held the stylist's hand and led him into the room.

Sebastian looked disappointed as Zeno moved out of his arms, his eyes looking over to his mother, accusation clear in his eyes.

"This is Som, the best stylist in Paris," Mrs. Orion introduced the stylist.

"Good evening, Mr. Sebastian, Mr. Evader," Som greeted professionally.

Zeno gave him a small smile while Sebastian looked at him as if he was responsible for spoiling their moment.

"Looks like you interrupted something, Som," Irene walked in with the catalog in her hand.

"Oh, he did nothing, Irene. I knew Sebastian couldn't keep his hands to himself, so I had to come in," Mrs. Orion chuckled.

"Well, Zeno, darling, just let Som take your measurements, and that would be all," Irene suggested.

Zeno nodded, ignoring the dangerous stare Sebastian was giving Som.

"Just right here, please," Som held Zeno's hand and led him away from the front of the mirror.

"Calm down, Son; Som is just doing his job. He's not trying to steal your man," Mrs. Orion teased Sebastian when he saw the way Sebastian's eyes followed every movement Som's hand made on Zeno's body.

Sebastian scoffed and gritted his teeth, "You could have called Cross, Madre, this is too much," He sighed.

"Cross... he's a wild card. I can't count on him to be here when I need him. You're actually the only one who the strong-headed child listens to," Mrs. Orion said with worry.

Sebastian shrugged, "Maybe I'm the only one who lets him be himself," he replied.

"Who's Cross?" Zeno asked from the side.

Mrs. Orion gave Sebastian a mischievous look.

"Yeah, who's Cross?" Irene questioned.

"Is he an ex you can't forget?" Irene pinned Sebastian with a penetrative gaze.

Sebastian looked at Zeno and almost laughed when he saw the cute, angry expression on Zeno's face; he wished he could tease him more, but he didn't want any misunderstanding between them, and he could see Irene ready to shoot him down if he dared to hurt her son.

"Cross is my cousin, sweetheart. Just a cousin, you'll meet him soon," Sebastian cleared the air.

Zeno rolled his eyes, "Better."

Irene smiled, "Better... indeed," She agreed.

After their measurements, they walked out of the fitting room and went back to the showroom.

"They want to choose styles for us," Sebastian whispered to Zeno as they saw that their mothers were back to pointing things out in the catalog.

Sebastian went and leaned against the wall, arms crossed, amused as he stared at Zeno's disapproving face.

Zeno muttered, "If they bring out lace and bows, I'm walking out."

Zeno's mother grinned without looking up.

"Then we'll just lace the cuffs. You won't even notice," she said, chuckling with Mrs. Orion.