Chapter 61: Between Rumours and Ruin
While at Lucien’s apartment that night...
Lucien lay in bed, the room dim except for the faint glow of his iPad screen. His thumb scrolled slowly through the endless stream of comments flooding the media.
"I feel so bad for Young Master Ash. He doesn’t deserve this kind of humiliation."
"It’s not too late-Ash can still call off the engagement."
"Can you believe an S-rank Alpha getting involved with an Enigma?"
"Guess being an Alpha doesn’t stop you from being a bottom after all 😂😂."
Lucien exhaled quietly, his jaw tightening. He scrolled a little more, each word cutting deeper; pity, mockery, and speculation all tangled together. For a moment, he just stared at the screen, the reflection of those cruel comments flickering in his tired eyes.
The sound of footsteps made him flinch. Quickly, he locked the iPad and set it aside just as Ash entered the room, his hair slightly messy from studying.
Lucien straightened himself, forcing a small, casual smile. "You’re done with your assignments?" he asked lightly.
Ash stood at the door, watching him, seeing through the act. His gaze softened, concern clear in his eyes. He didn’t need to ask; he already knew Lucien was hurt, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
Ash walked over and sat quietly on the edge of the bed. Lucien shifted, uneasy under his gaze. Then, as if deciding something, he got up, grabbed a blanket, and said softly,
"Tonight...I’ll sleep in the guest room."
Ash blinked, then quickly stood to block his way.
"Why?" he asked, his voice low but tense.
Lucien looked at him, his eyes flickering with something fragile, emotional, but said nothing.
"Yesterday we slept in the same bed," Ash continued, his tone trembling slightly. "Even before that too. So...why are you deciding to sleep apart now?"
Lucien stayed silent, his gaze drifting away.
Ash hesitated, then said quietly, "If it’s about what people are saying online, if you’re feeling guilty-don’t. I know the truth. You didn’t do anything wrong."
Lucien finally lifted his eyes. "It’s not just that," he said quietly. "It’s about that message...the one you sent in the group chat, asking if I could dominate you."
Ash froze, the realization hitting him. Words failed him.
Lucien’s voice was calm but faint. "Since you marked me, you’ve changed, Ash. You’re not the same. The Ash I knew never wanted me close." He paused. "Adrian told me you said you were obsessed with me."
Ash’s eyes widened, thoughts racing. Adrian...even if Lucien isyour soulmate, did you really have to tell him that?
Lucien laid the blanket back on the bed, then, in a sudden motion, pulled Ash into his arms. His voice dropped to a whisper near Ash’s ear.
"Instead of telling Adrian," he murmured, "tell me. What do you really feel toward me?"
Ash’s breath caught. Being that close, he noticed something unusual; Lucien’s scent had changed. It was softer now, almost fragile, with a faint rosy trace that hadn’t been there before.
He murmured, almost unconsciously, "Your scent...it’s changed."
Lucien froze. Then slowly, he pulled away his expression shuttered. He swallowed hard.
"I’m...sleepy," he muttered, grabbing the blanket and heading for the door.
Ash stood there, watching him go, confusion clouding his thoughts.
Why did he look so unsettled when I told him his scent had changed?
Ash sat on the bed, his thoughts drifting. The room felt quiet, heavy. He couldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened; Lucien’s name trending everywhere, the chaos, the rumors.
And at the center of it all...Aster.
He frowned slightly. After he ran off that day, where did he even go?
Reaching for his phone, Ash scrolled through his contacts and dialed his grandmother.
The call connected after a few rings, and her cheerful voice filled his ear.
"Bunny! At last, you decided to call. You went quiet without even telling me how your brother’s wedding went."
Ash smiled faintly, guilt softening his tone. "Sorry, Grandma. The wedding turned out great. I wish you were there."
"Ah, I missed it," she sighed, then added teasingly, "but I heard about your engagement. So, you finally got asked out!"
Ash blinked in surprise. "You already know that too?"
Her laugh was warm. "Why not? Were you planning to hide it from me."
He rubbed the back of his neck. "No, I just...wanted to tell you myself. But it seems Mother is always one step ahead of me."
There was a soft chuckle on the other end before Ash remembered why he had called.
"By the way, Grandma...is Uncle Aster at home?"
"Yes, he’s here," she replied casually. "He just came in this morning from the city." Then her tone lowered slightly. "Though he’s been acting different...not his usual self."
A faint laugh followed. "Anyway, this weekend when you come over..."
Ash’s chest tightened, a strange unease prickling under his skin. The thought of meeting Aster again felt like walking into a storm.
"Sorry, Grandma," he said quickly. "This weekend, I’d rather not. I have a lot of schoolwork to finish."
There was a small pause. She sounded a little disappointed at first, but then her voice brightened again.
"What’s a weekend without my Bunny?" she said fondly. "But it’s alright, I understand. You’re a candidate now."
Ash smiled faintly. "Goodnight, Grandma. I love you."
"Goodnight too, my Bunny," she replied softly.
"Grandma loves you more."
Ash ended the call, lowering the phone slowly. His chest felt warmth, yet unsettled.
The next morning
Adrian stood before the mirror in the guest room, his head heavy from the hangover. His memory of last night was foggy-just fragments of anger, raised voices, and Ash’s mother calm hands guiding him to bed.
He frowned as he tried to knot his tie, the fabric slipping between his fingers.
A soft knock came before Ash’s mother stepped in, her voice warm but steady. "Still struggling with that?"
Adrian gave a tired smile. "Seems I forgot how."
She moved closer, fixing the tie with practiced hands. "You drank too much," she said quietly.
"Your father was upset, but it’ll pass."
Adrian hesitated. "Did I...say anything last night?"
She didn’t look at him right away, only smoothed the tie neatly before meeting his eyes in the mirror. "Nothing worth remembering," she said with a small smile. Then, her tone softened, almost thoughtful.
"Just be careful, Adrian," she murmured. "Some paths seem harmless until you realize they lead you somewhere you can’t return from."
Adrian blinked, unsure what to make of her words. He nodded faintly. "I’ll keep that in mind."
She smiled again and patted his shoulder lightly before leaving, her expression unreadable.
...
Evening settled quietly over the city.
Adrian sat in his office chair, slowly swinging back and forth. The papers on his desk remained untouched, he hadn’t been able to focus on anything since morning.
His mind kept circling back to the same thoughts. Lucien...and Ash.
He clenched his jaw, a bitter taste in his mouth.
How could Lucien betray me like that?
And Ash...the way he stood by Lucien, defending him, it stung even deeper.
He leaned back, eyes dull with exhaustion. Are they both turning against me now?
A hollow laugh escaped him. Was I never enough for either of them?
For a fleeting second, his thoughts darkened. If I’d taken those desires pills...maybe things would’ve been different.
He exhaled sharply, rubbing his face with both hands. The sound of the door creaking open broke the silence.
Adrian looked up, startled. "Celeste?" His voice came out rough, tired. "What are you doing here?"
She stepped in quietly, her heels soft against the floor. "You weren’t answering my calls," she said softly. "I got worried."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, eyes dull. "You shouldn’t have come."
"Why not?" Celeste asked, her voice tightening. "I’m your wife, Adrian."
She rounded the desk and stopped beside him. Her tone softened, though her eyes glistened. "Why can’t you at least try to love me?" she whispered. "Since we were children, you’ve been the only man my heart has ever wanted."
Adrian’s jaw tensed. "But you know it’s impossible, Celeste," he said quietly. "You’re the one hurting yourself by holding on."
Her breath wavered; then she whispered, almost pleading, "Then...let’s sleep together. Maybe that will make you feel something for me."
Before he could react, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Adrian froze, his hands instinctively came up, pushing against her shoulders in resistance. But Celeste held on tightly, unwillingly to let go.
The sharp click of the door opening again shattered the moment.
They both turned, and froze.
Ash stood at the doorway, eyes wide, his expression trembling between disbelief and anger.
For a long moment, the room was silent; heavy, suffocating. Then he turned away, his steps unsteady as he headed for the lift.
"Ash-wait!" Adrian’s voice cracked as he stumbled after him.
But Ash didn’t stop. His chest ached, his breath catching as Adrian’s words echoed in his mind, "I would never touch her."
Tears blurred his vision as he looked down at the bracelet on his wrist, the one Adrian had given him. His fingers trembled as he pulled it off, staring at it for a heartbeat before letting it fall to the floor. He pressed the lift button with shaking hands and stepped inside just as the doors began to close.
Adrian rushed forward, breathless. "Ash!" But the doors slid shut before he could reach him, sealing the distance between them.
For a moment, Adrian just stood there, staring at his reflection in the metal; pale, hollow, broken.
His gaze dropped to the floor, to the woven bracelet lying there. He bent down and picked it up, his hands trembling.
A sound escaped him- part whisper, part sob.
"Does this mean...it’s over?"