Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Dark bet.
(Adrain)
Seated on the couch, he crossed his legs, calmly sipping his wine as he watched Daniel shake and tremble behind the pillar. The boy was bound so tightly that the ropes must have already dug deep into his skin, wounding his palms and cutting into his flesh.
Cassian and Jake busied themselves, preparing what they would use to discipline Daniel, while the others ran around searching for anything useful. Adrian had made it clear himself—after the punishment, they would all relocate. The explosion had surely drawn attention, and by now, word must have spread. Investigations would soon be carried out, and this place would be exposed. He wouldn’t allow himself to be caught here.
Adrian still wanted to remain hidden, that untouchable figure impossible to pin down, no matter how many times they tried to drag him into the open. With every slow sip of wine, his sadistic smile deepened as his gaze stayed glued to Daniel—his helpless, trembling prey.
"I promised to break that will of yours, Dan. Turn you into my obedient little puppy, my machine for pleasure. And there’s nothing you’ll be able to do about it." His voice was calm, amused, as Daniel struggled pointlessly against the rope, thinking he could somehow break free.
Adrian already knew the truth. He knew the real perpetrator, and he knew the person in the video was not Daniel. The walk alone gave it away. Daniel’s steps had a distinct grace no one could mimic—the way he catwalked and swayed his hips like a model, elegant and stunning, as if born to royalty. Adrian despised feminine men, thought them irritating, but Daniel’s elegance was different. It wasn’t forced, wasn’t pretentious. It was natural—too graceful, too refined.
Sometimes Adrian wondered if Daniel came from a line of royalty or an influential family. But then again, no rich household would ever sell off one of their own like that. So, despite knowing Daniel was innocent—that he had been with him that very day and had no chance to commit the act—Adrian still intended to destroy him. Daniel didn’t even remember being with him, never mentioned it. All the better.
That didn’t matter now. What mattered was breaking Daniel’s will and making him his property forever. And as for the real perpetrator... Adrian was watching. He would catch them. One slip, one mistake, and they’d be finished.
Daniel groaned, his body shaking as the ropes dug deeper into his skin. He gritted his teeth and tried bringing his hands forward, desperate to chew the binds off with his mouth, but the angle wouldn’t allow it. His muscles strained, and the pain shot through his body, forcing another groan out of him.
"Why do these ropes have to be so damn tight..." Daniel muttered bitterly, realizing all his struggling led him back to the same place—nowhere.
"Stop wasting your time," Adrian’s husky voice came from behind. "You’re stuck. You’re not moving an inch until you receive your just reward."
He moved like a shadow, circling, scrutinizing Daniel with predatory calm. Daniel felt his glare pierce through him, making him shift uncomfortably. The intensity of it was suffocating.
Then it got worse. Adrian leaned close, his breath brushing Daniel’s collar as he sniffed against his skin, leaning toward his ear as though to whisper something sinful.
"Want Daddy to suck you?" Adrian’s tone dripped with seduction and poison.
Daniel shivered, his body trembling at the closeness. His skin prickled with chills as Adrian’s lips hovered at his neckline.
"Get away from me, you psycho," Daniel spat, shaking his body, trying to push the man off. Adrian, however, didn’t budge.
Instead, Adrian’s hand shot up and gripped Daniel’s cheeks harshly, squeezing and dragging his face closer until their eyes locked.
"You’re innocent, Dan. I can clearly see that."
Daniel froze, eyes widening in confusion. His heart pounded.
"Then why—" he started, but Adrian pressed a finger against his lips, silencing him.
"You know why," Adrian whispered, his voice sharp. "That unbroken will of yours—I want it shattered."
His grip on Daniel’s cheeks tightened, making the boy squirm in pain as his skin reddened under the force. He couldn’t even cry out properly, the tape across his mouth muffling his sounds. Still, he struggled, writhing against both the ropes cutting into him and Adrian’s iron hand on his face.
"Your mind," Adrian continued coldly, "must be filled with thoughts of me. All day. Only me."
His hand slid downward, fingers trailing across Daniel’s chest, inching lower and lower until they reached his hips. Daniel’s face twitched, his discomfort plain, his eyes wide with both fear and disgust.
"You’ll cry out my name, Daniel. You’ll moan like a bitch and beg for more." Adrian’s voice was venomous now. "I’ll make you beg for my fuck—beg for what you deserve."
Daniel’s face flushed scarlet, his body trembling violently. Not here. Not in front of them. This humiliation was unbearable.
Cassian and Jake returned, whip in hand, but Adrian stopped them with a glance.
"Change of plans," he said smoothly. "We’re making a bet."
He smirked, his gaze sliding back to Daniel like a predator savoring its prey. "I’ll prove that I can make him cum—make him beg for my precious dick."
Laughter erupted in the room. The crew roared, some mocking, others already pulling out their wallets.
"People die for this dick," Adrian bragged. "And Daniel is going to grovel for it. He’ll beg for a single taste."
The laughter spread, filling the air like a curse. One by one, they placed their bets against Daniel. No one believed he’d hold out. No one thought he could resist Adrian’s sinful touch. To them, Daniel was already broken—a whore waiting to bend.
But then, Alexander McQueen stepped forward. Calm, composed, his confident smile silenced the crowd.
"I put five hundred thousand dollars on Daniel’s head," he announced, "that he will reject you."
The room froze.
Daniel’s eyes widened in shock. Of all things, this was what Alexander chose to do? After watching him almost die, now he placed such ridiculous faith in him? What did this man really want? His moves were far from ordinary.
Titania and Greta exchanged sharp glances, their frozen smiles hiding unease. Five hundred thousand—for Daniel? For someone so "cheap"? A whore? Madness.
Adrian’s smile twisted into something darker, his face turning eerie.
"Interesting, newbie," he sneered. "Let’s see, then. Watch closely, everyone, as I break this little bitch."
His hand slammed against Daniel’s ass, making him jolt and groan through the tape. The room roared again. Adrian’s mocking laughter echoed, sealing the bet.
And as Daniel cursed inwardly, one thought consumed him—Adrian was digging a grave. A deep, hollow, unforgiving grave. And soon, it would swallow him whole.