51 – Cypress Mosaic

Lively ​hair ​that ​seemed ​to hold the ​light, ​clear ​eyes ​whose ​color could be distinguished ​even ​from a distance, ​a quiet gait, ​and ​a ​detached ​aura ​that ​made him seem ​somewhat ​unapproachable. ​Lorenz stared at ​Elian, forgetting even to ​blink.

Perhaps because ​the place ​was unfamiliar, ​Elian stopped ​on ​one ​side of the ​lobby and ​looked around. Soon, his ​gaze stopped at a ​certain spot. It was ​the direction ​where ​Lorenz was standing.

Elian’s face brightened softly ​for a moment.

It was ​a ​smile ​that ​seemed ​reserved only for ​the people ​he ​felt safest with, ​one ​devoid of even the slightest ​hint of ​caution ​or hostility. It ​was ​different ​from ​the ​smile he ​gave ​Lucas.

Incredibly, that ​smile was directed at Lorenz himself.

Without realizing ​it, Lorenz slowly ​rose from his ​seat. As the distance ​between him ​and Elian closed, ​everything ​else in his ​field of vision ​blurred. The ​noises ​that had ​been ​grating on ​his ​nerves faded ​into ​the ​distance.

Lorenz even took ​a ​step toward ​him.

Is ​he ​smiling ​that happily because he discovered me?

However, that illusion soon scattered like a mirage.

Someone intercepted Elian’s smile midway.

A broad back blocked the space between Lorenz and Elian, and visit our siteElian shared a [Read on Read BL Novels]light hug with [Read on Read BL Novels]the owner of that back.

Lorenz’s pale forehead and the corners of his eyes contorted. His sharp cheek twitched as he struggled to suppress his emotions.

Elian engaged in a pleasant conversation with the strange man.

He was a man with a sturdy build and tanned skin—the type who would tuck a basketball or rugby ball under his arm and run out at any given moment, similar to Noah Carter.

Wait.

Lorenz’s brow furrowed, and his green eyes revealed his displeasure through his narrowed gaze.

Is that really his type?

Because of the distance, he couldn’t hear exactly what the two were saying. However, judging by the lack of distance between them, their expressions, and the friendly physical contact, it seemed they were more than just casual acquaintances.

Elian Bellotti was infinitely kind and inclusive toward children, but he was not the type to become close with other people quickly. He hadn’t yet mingled comfortably with anyone in the mansion, including Margaret. He was polite and kind, but not the type to easily let people in.

Seeing Elian treat someone with such lack of reserve, it was clear that this relationship had not just started a day or two ago.

Whatever it was they found so amusing, the two looked as joyful as college freshmen. They looked around the lobby and laughed while looking at a phone screen together. Elian lightly punched the man’s shoulder at some joke the man had made. The man chuckled, wrapping his hand around Elian’s fist to push it away. Even so, Elian just kept laughing. As if he trusted the man completely.

The muscle under Lorenz’s eye twitched.

He could no longer bear to watch.

“By the way, you’re really dressed up today. You even brought a jacket.”

Elian took a fresh look at Vincent’s attire.

“Coming to a luxury hotel like this, this much is basic.”

“I feel like it’s been a really long time since I’ve seen you in a shirt.”

“Doesn’t this make me look like a Wall Street trader?”

Elian smiled and nodded at his friend’s exaggerated gesture as he tilted his chin up with a proud air.

“Yeah, you look like a fund manager who works out very hard.”

“It’s just because I’m overshadowed by you; I’m not half bad myself.”

Amused by Vincent’s boasting, Elian kept chuckling. Leaving the mansion and hanging out with an old friend made him feel the tension release, as if he could finally breathe.

“But I think your physique has gotten even better.”

“Ah, does the shirt look a bit small?”

Vincent, who had indeed been moving somewhat uncomfortably, flexed his elbow.

“Yeah, especially here in the forearm…”

It was just as Elian wrapped his hand around Vincent’s arm, which was stretching the shirt sleeve tight.

“Mr. Bellotti.”

A stiff, low voice sounded like a warning. The two men turned in the same direction. Surprise appeared on both their faces simultaneously. Neither of them was surprised with pleasure.

“Oh… hello… what brings you here…”

Elian, who had been wrapping both hands around Vincent’s forearm as if gauging the size, paused and withdrew his hands at the stinging glare Lorenz cast upon them.

Lorenz was crafting a perfectly social smile with his lips. However, his eyes were as cold as to be visibly accusatory. His eyes and mouth were moving completely independently of one another.

“I have a dinner appointment.”

“Ah, I see…”

Elian trailed off and avoided eye contact. It was a reaction that clearly showed he was uncomfortable. Knowing this full well, Lorenz simply watched the hesitating Elian in silence.

Elian must have been hoping that Lorenz would just leave. He was likely desperately wishing for him to say, ‘I’ll see you later,’ and disappear. However, Lorenz had no intention of doing so.

Biting his lower lip and looking down, Elian looked almost pitiful. I wonder how Elian Bellotti will introduce stolen contentthis man to me. Lorenz focused on [unauthorized copy]Elian’s lips. The excessive excitement created by the mixture [stolen content]of curiosity, anticipation, and anxiety was almost enough to be mistaken for love.

“It seems Mr. Bellotti has an appointment here as well?”

Eventually, Lorenz stepped in to prompt Elian.

Give up, because there is no way to avoid this situation. I have no intention of backing down.

“Yes, I also have a dinner appointment…”

This time, Lorenz’s gaze turned blatantly toward Elian’s companion. In truth, it would have been more awkward not to. The man was far too large to go unnoticed while standing right beside them, listening to the conversation.

Lorenz quickly scanned the man.

He had a masculine face. Depending on one’s taste, he could be called handsome, but compared to Elian Bellotti beside him, he was blurred and unremarkable. Then again, anyone’s presence would fade when standing next to him.

Elian finally sighed and waved a white flag.

“This is my friend, Vincent. Vince, this person is…”

“I already know, of course. Nice to meet you, Mr. Lockhart. I’m Vincent, Elian’s friend.”

As if he had been waiting, the man stepped forward and offered a handshake to Lorenz before Elian could even finish the introduction. His eye level was slightly lower than Lorenz’s, but because of his build, the difference didn’t feel significant. Overall, he was about the same as Joshua…

“Nice to meet you. I am Lorenz Lockhart.”

Lorenz shook the man’s hand. In that brief moment, he quickly judged the man’s attitude, the confidence felt in the handshake, and the intensity of his gaze. He could tell the other man was similarly probing him. He felt a sense of rivalry and tension in the handshake. It was by no means a friendly greeting.

Is he perhaps Elian Bellotti’s lover? Otherwise, there would be no reason to check me like this.

While he was also probing and checking the man, Lorenz failed to notice his own behavior. He turned back to Elian with a composed face.

“It seems you’ve come out for a meal with your friend since it’s a holiday.”

“…Yes.”

The man suddenly interrupted.

“Elian insisted on buying dinner here. I told him it’s just overpriced and declined, but this guy kept insisting. He said he wanted to have a meal at a wonderful place to celebrate receiving his first paycheck.”

Unlike Elian’s brief answer, the man rambled on about things that weren’t asked and ended with a boisterous laugh. His purpose was clearly to flaunt his relationship with Elian. The faint, crooked smile on the corner of his lips and the gaze that looked down with a slightly raised chin said so. Elian Bellotti and I are in a deeper relationship than you imagine.

There was no change in Lorenz’s expression. However, beneath that face, which was like a solid mask, his provoked pride writhed.

His lips twisted into a thin, cold smile.

“You seem to be very close friends.”

“We are, aren’t we?”

The man ostentatiously draped his arm over Elian’s shoulder. Glaring at the heavy-looking forearm that seemed to weigh down Elian’s shoulder, Lorenz responded with a sneer.

“Yes, it certainly seems you are very close friends. Because if this were a date, surely you wouldn’t have let Mr. Bellotti pay for the meal.”

“……”

The triumphant man looked momentarily struck.

Lorenz didn’t wait for the other to counterattack. He immediately whispered to Elian in a voice tinged with regret.

“If I had known our destinations were the same, I should have come out with you.”

“What?”

“To think I didn’t even think to ask about your weekend plans while we were spending time together yesterday evening.”

“Ah… no, it’s fine. It’s a short distance.”

“Still, I feel somewhat sorry.”

“No, really, it’s okay…”

Elian hurriedly denied it, even waving his hands. Lorenz’s change was so radical that one would wonder who this man even was. Despite acting excessively kind and friendly, he looked more dangerous than usual. He was like someone hiding [stolen content]a [stolen content]knife behind his back. The moment Elian instinctively tried to step back, someone’s voice intervened between them.

“Mr. Lockhart?”

The gazes of the three people focused on one spot simultaneously. A woman was crossing the lobby and approaching them. It was Adriana.