Warning: This chapter contains cursing and mature themes such as violence and abuse(physical and verbal), which might be triggering. Reader discretion is advised.
Aiden was in the car with Dylan on the way to the penthouse. Dylan was quiet the whole way, and Aiden found his silence even more scary. He recalled Dylan's threat he received at the restaurant and shuddered at the consequences.
The penthouse Dylan had was screaming luxury. It had high ceilings and large ceiling windows that allowed light to flood in and create an illusion of more room. It was fitted with premium appliances and hardware that elevated the space. The view through the window was the best Aiden had ever seen. This would be his favorite spot in the penthouse.
" Do you like it?" Dylan asked, staring at Aiden, who was looking at the scenic view. He somehow felt peaceful seeing Aiden at his home. It felt as if Aiden belonged here.
Aiden was surprised at the unexpected question. " It's beautiful."
" Way better than the apartment you stayed in," Dylan scoffed.
Aiden scrunched up his face at Dylan's mockery. Even though Noah's home was not as huge and luxurious as this penthouse, he would always prefer to stay there rather than here.
The maid then showed up, and Dylan asked her to show Aiden his room. Dylan was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he forgot about his earlier threat to Aiden.
Aiden was arranging his clothes in the closet when the maid called him for dinner.
" I will be there in five," Aiden said, and the maid left.
When Aiden was about to leave his room, he got a call from Noah.
" Where were you?" Aiden asked, feeling relieved. " I have been trying to catch hold of you since morning."
" I couldn't see you leave," Noah choked up.
Aiden had tears in his eyes when he heard Noah's broken voice.
" W-Where are you now?" Noah stuttered.
Judging Noah's mood, Aiden was contemplating whether to tell him about him staying with Dylan. Hiding it from Noah was taking a toll on him. " We should meet up tomorrow. I need to tell you something."
" What is it about?" Noah asked, concerned. " Are you all right?"
" I am fine, but you don't seem to be."
" I miss you."
" I miss you too, Noah," Aiden said and froze when he saw Dylan standing before him, eyes red with fury.
"I'm waiting for you for dinner, and you're on the phone with your boyfriend?" Dylan roared.
Before Aiden could respond, Dylan had snatched his phone and broken it into pieces.
" Now he is more important to you, right?"
Aiden was frozen with fear at the intensity of Dylan's tone.
Dylan raised his hand to hit but halted when Aiden backed away and covered his face with his arms. The look on Aiden's face somehow pierced his heart. Just a few seconds ago, Aiden had a concerned expression while talking to his boyfriend, but now he had a dreadful look.
Why couldn't he look at Dylan with concern? Why did it bother him so much?
" What are you doing to me? You are screwing up my mind." Dylan mumbled.
Aiden couldn't hear what Dylan said and didn't have the guts to ask. He stood still, waiting for Dylan's next move.
Dylan was so confused with his emotions that he turned around and left, locking Aiden's room from outside so that he didn't have to face him for now.
Aiden slumped on the floor, feeling confused and relieved that Dylan had gone. Why did Dylan suddenly stop? Did he have a change of heart? Day by day, his behavior was getting unpredictable.
His relief was short-lived as when he tried opening the door after a few minutes, it was locked. What was Dylan planning now? Why had he locked him up? Feeling frustrated, he stared at his cracked phone on the floor. Noah must be so worried about him. He decided to meet Noah the next day and tell him everything about Dylan right from the start.
Meanwhile, Dylan was furious and was returning to his room when the maid interrupted him.
" What?" he spat.
" S-Sir. Your dinner?"
" I am not hungry," Dylan said and turned to leave.
" S-Sir?"
"Now what?"
" Mrs. Hunt called. She said you were not picking up your phone."
" I will speak to her," Dylan said and locked his room. His mother had been asking him to come home for dinner for the past few days, but Dylan was too involved with Aiden's issues. Nowadays, his mind seems to be absorbed only with the thoughts of Aiden. Whenever he sees him, his emotions are all over the place, and he is unable to focus on his work too. Had he made a mistake by getting Aiden into this house? But the alternate option seemed even worse. If not here, Aiden would stay with his boyfriend, which was unacceptable. The thought itself made Dylan seethe with anger and jealousy. Jealousy. Something which he had never experienced before.
The following day, Dylan was still pissed as he couldn't sleep the whole night. He didn't want to face Aiden yet, so he decided to keep him locked.
When he reached his office, his mood became even sour as Noah was waiting for him at the entrance of the building.
" We will talk in our office as I don't want to create a scene here," Dylan said to Noah curtly and indicated him to follow.
" Where's Aiden?" Noah asked worriedly.
" Let's discuss it in my office," Dylan said without looking back.
Once they were in the cabin, Noah repeated the question.
" He's at my home," Dylan said casually.
" Why didn't he come with you? Is he sick?"
Dylan shrugged. " I don't know."
" What do you mean you don't know?" Noah seethed. " Did you hurt him?"
" I didn't hurt him."
" I heard you screaming at him yesterday. After that, his phone was not reachable."
" That's because I broke his phone."
" Why?" Noah was appalled.
" I was angry since he made me wait for dinner," Dylan said cooly as if it was a normal thing to do.
" Who do you think you are?" Noah screamed. " How can you force Aiden?"
" Do not raise your voice," Dylan said, gritting his teeth.
" I won't once you stop interfering in our lives."
" It's you who is interfering," Dylan said, getting up from his seat. " I have known Aiden since he was 10. I picked him up from the Orphanage and brought him to my Mansion. I gave him the life he is leading now. If not for me, Aiden would be rotting in the Orphanage without a future."
Noah was shocked at Dylan's sudden outburst. Even more shocking was how Dylan spoke about Aiden as if he owned him. What was his relationship with him? Was he merely a brother?
" Aiden was contended to be with me in our family," Dylan continued. " He never refused me for anything. But after you came into his life, he has changed. You are a bad influence on him. What else can I expect from a fag?" Dylan spat the last word in disgust.
What is your relationship with Aiden?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow. " You don't act as a brother should."
" I don't have to explain it to you," Dylan sneered. " Rather, you should stay away from Aiden."
" Impossible. I love him, and he loves me too. It's you who should stay away."
At the mention of love, Dylan felt a burning rage inside him. Unable to control himself, he landed a punch on Noah's face. " Shut the f**k up, faggot."
Noah was pushed back by the impact of the punch. He wiped his bleeding lip and looked at Dylan's eyes raging with jealousy. He knew that look very well.
" What's your problem?" Noah said. " It's Aiden's life. It's his choice with whom he wants to be in a relationship. Who are you to question that?"
Dylan held Noah's collar and roared, " Get out of my office if you know what's best for you."
Noah pushed Dylan's hand away from his collar and asked, " Are you in love with him? I thought you hated gays."
" I don't love him, but I own him." It seemed like Dylan was trying to convince himself more than Noah.
" Do you hear yourself?" Noah said, exasperated. " What are you even saying?"
" Get out from here; else, I will call the security to force you out." This conversation about love bothered Dylan a lot.
" I am leaving, but this is far from over. I love Aiden and will never ever give up on him." Noah then turned around and stormed out of Dylan's office.