Chapter 77 Unexpected twist
“Nat!” He called out.
Nathan turned slightly, unsteady on his feet. Even from behind, Lucas could tell he was drunk already.
“Buddy, wait up!” Lucas jogged after him.
Nathan looked back, eyes red, expression twisted with bitterness. He let out a humorless snort. “You? Backstabber, stay away from me.”
He staggered forward again.
Lucas caught up, grabbing his arm gently. “Please, let’s talk for a bit. Call me anything you want, insult me, yell at me…just talk to me. Don’t shut me out.”
Nathan yanked his arm free. “I don’t have anything to say to you.” His voice cracked between anger and hurt. “Just stay the hell away from me.”
He rushed toward his car, fumbling with the keys. Lucas’s heart jumped.
“Nat, you’re drunk, don’t drive!”
Nathan ignored him, slid into the driver’s seat, and slammed the door. The engine roared to life. The car sped off so abruptly that it nearly brushed Lucas’s knees.
“Nat!” Lucas shouted after him.
The taillights disappeared. Lucas bent over, hands braced on his knees, chest heaving and heart aching badly.
A car slowed beside him. “A cab, sir? Where to?” the driver asked gently.
Lucas straightened, jaw tight. “Take me to Dream Avenue.” He gave Nathan’s location without hesitation.
The driver was Dan. He nodded and drove.
When they arrived, Lucas barely waited for the car to stop completely before stepping out.
Dan frowned, sensing trouble, he parked nearby and monitored.
Lucas knocked hard. Then the door swung open abruptly.
Nathan stood there, eyes glassy, shirt half untucked, fury blazing through the alcohol.
“What the hell do you want?” he barked. “I told you not to come home today, leave already.”
He began to slam the door shut.
Lucas pushed his hand against it and stepped inside before it could close. “No. Not this time. You can’t run from me.”
Nathan stared at him, stunned by the audacity.
Outside, Dan muttered under his breath, “Damn it.” Pulling out his phone, he dialed immediately.
“Boss,” Dan said as the call connected. “Lucas is at Nathan’s place and both of them have taken alcohol.”
“What,” escaped Alex as tension rose immediately. His voice sharpened instantly. “Damn it, they are not good with alcohol.”
“Yeah, they look heated.”
“Stay there,” Alex ordered, already moving. “I’m checking the security feed in case this turns into a fight.”
“Alright, boss,” Dan replied, eyes fixed on the house.
Inside Nathan’s apartment, voices were already rising. And the night was only getting started.
Lucas stumbled inside, the alcohol catching up with him. His words tripped over each other as badly as his steps.
“Nat… I swear… I never expected the person I’ve been dreaming about to be the same Alex. If I hadn’t saved his life back then, maybe we wouldn’t have bonded like that. Maybe none of this would’ve happened.”
Nathan wasn’t listening all the while. He had already pulled off his clothes, heading toward the bathroom, with a towel on his shoulder. He was halfway to the bathroom when one phrase sliced through the haze.
‘Saved his life.’
Nathan froze. Slowly, he turned around. “What did you just say?”
Lucas blinked, confused. “Nat, I said I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I never meant to keep the truth from you. I was waiting for…”
Nathan took a step closer. “No, not that.” His voice dropped, then grew sharper again. “Did you just say you saved his life years ago?”
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Lucas’s eyes widened. He took an unconscious step back. “I…I..”
“Answer me.” Nathan moved closer, his stare piercing despite the alcohol.
Lucas swallowed hard. His throat felt dry. Slowly, hesitantly, he nodded.
Nathan’s jaw tightened. “You saved him? Years ago?” He asked again, stepping forward.
Lucas nodded again, backing away until his shoulders hit the wall.
There was nowhere else to go.
Nathan kept advancing until he stood directly in front of him, breath heavy, eyes blazing with something darker than anger…betrayal.
“You mean to tell me,” Nathan said through clenched teeth, “That the guy I’ve been hating… the guy I thought stole my Alex… is someone I’ve been connected to for years? My joy wrecker is you?”
Lucas’s hands trembled at his sides. “It wasn’t like that. I didn’t even know it was him at first. I didn’t know he was the same Alex we shared until I started working there. I swear, Nat. I never planned this. I didn't mean to hurt you.”
Nathan laughed bitterly. “Of course, you didn’t plan it. It just… happened.” He leaned closer. “You bonded. You fell in love. And I was what? Just collateral damage?”
Across town, in his office, Alex stood rigid before the security monitors. Multiple camera angles filled the screen. Nathan’s living room, the bedroom, the kitchen, and more.
Then seeing Lucas trapped against the wall, Alex’s heart thudded and jaw hardened.
He could see Nathan closing in and Lucas’s back pressed flat, his head tilted slightly as if bracing for something.
“Damn it,” Alex muttered.
He grabbed his phone and dialed immediately.
“Yes, boss,” Dan answered at once.
“Go and stand by Nathan’s door,” Alex ordered, voice cold and controlled. “Don’t knock. Don’t interfere. Just wait for my signal.”
“Yes, boss.”
As the call ended, Alex didn’t blink as he watched the screen. His fingers hovered near another command, one that would unlock the remote alarm system if necessary.
Inside the house, Nathan’s palm slammed against the wall beside Lucas’s head.
Lucas flinched.
“You saved his life,” Nathan repeated, shaking his head. “And you never told me.”
Lucas’s voice broke. “I was scared, Nat. Scared you’d think exactly what you’re thinking right now.”
“And what am I thinking?” Nathan demanded.
“That I chose him over you and that he broke up with you because of me.” His voice, cracking.
A heavy, dangerous silence stretched between them.
Outside, Dan stepped quietly onto the porch and positioned himself beside the door, waiting for the next order.
Inside, tension crackled like a live wire. And Alex watched every second of it.
Lucas found his voice first. “Nat, I'm so sorry for keeping this from you. I will do anything I can to make it up to you.”
“There is no fucking thing you can do to fix this,” Nathan screamed as he ran a hand through his hair. Then his voice lowered, his eyes locked with Lucas’s. “Just leave.”
“Nat, you've been my friend for three years. I don't want to lose you.” Lucas said calmly.
“And you think I want to lose you? I've always treated you like my special person. You know that right?” Nathan’s voice cracked.
Lucas's eyes glistered with tears as he nodded, “Yes, that’s why I don't want to lose you.” His voice cracked and tears rolled down his cheek. He wiped it off instantly, staring down.
Those tears melted all the anger flowing within Nathan and turned it into unexpected emotion. He lifted his hand gradually to Lucas’s chin, then tilted his face up. Their eyes met, flashing with something warm within them.
From where Alex was watching, his heart skipped, his eyes widened, “What the heck is going on there?”