67 – Cypress Mosaic

“By ​the ​way, ​what ​is that? It ​smells ​good.”

Adriana ​showed ​interest ​in the plastic bag ​Elian ​was holding.

Elian lifted ​the bag slightly.

“Ah… ​they’re ​hot ​dogs ​from ​a ​food truck.”

“Wow, hot ​dogs? ​That ​sounds delicious.”

“I’m planning ​to eat them with ​Lucas.”

As soon ​as he ​finished speaking, ​Elian’s gaze ​darted ​urgently ​toward Lorenz.

“I received ​permission.”

He meant ​that he had Read on Read BL Novelsreceived ​permission from Lucas’s caregiver ​to visit our sitevisit our sitefeed him hot ​dogs.

“I mentioned ​that ​the hot dogs here are tasty, ​and Lucas seemed curious…”

“You… ​don’t ​need ​to ​make ​excuses. I won’t ​get angry ​just ​because you fed ​him ​food truck food.”

Lorenz’s voice was ​husky, as ​if ​he hadn’t spoken ​for ​a ​long ​time. ​It sounded ​rough, ​like it ​had been scraped by a sharp metallic ​object.

Lorenz rubbed his ​throat with his ​hand.

For some reason, he ​felt unpleasant. ​His mood plummeted ​sharply.

It ​was likely because ​he hadn’t properly ​resolved things ​after ​his argument ​with ​Elian. That ​was ​probably why ​just ​looking ​at him brought ​back ​that moment, ​causing ​his ​emotions ​to fluctuate unstably.

He wasn’t angry at Elian.

Joshua.

Vincent.

The captain of Elian’s high school football team. The three men stolen contentwho had tried Read on Read BL Novelsto drag Elian away. The stalker in front of the window.

And countless others he didn’t even know.

Humans who knew Elian Bellotti, who had seen him, and who had coveted his beauty.

He felt an intense disgust toward all of them.

“The smell is really something. Where did you buy them? Please let me know.”

“Ah, well, I’m not sure if they’ll be to your taste…”

Adriana wore a playful expression.

“Why? Do you think I only frequent Michelin-starred restaurants? Don’t worry and just tell me. I love tacos and hot dogs. It’s hard to find a truly good spot. Let’s share.”

After hesitating for a moment, Elian lifted the plastic bag to show her the name written on it.

“It’s on Madison Avenue. At the intersection with East 62nd Street. I found it recently; they’re famous for their burgers. Though I prefer the hot dogs.”

“Oh, I know that truck! I’ve only seen it while [visit our site]passing unauthorized copyby, but I’ll have to stop by next time.”

Lorenz did not join the conversation at all. However, even while remaining silent, his gaze was fixed on Elian the entire time. Perhaps feeling uncomfortable with the atmosphere, Elian glanced at him every now and then. Lorenz didn’t even like the way Elian looked at him with such unease.

“It was nice seeing you, Mr. Elian.”

At Adriana’s farewell, Elian looked relieved.

“Yes, likewise. Then… I’ll be heading up now—”

Elian tried to pass behind the two of them. His face showed that he wanted to escape this awkward situation as quickly as possible.

However, Lorenz, who had been standing with one hand in his pants pocket, stepped forward and blocked his path.

For a moment, Elian’s chin almost bumped into Lorenz’s collarbone. Startled, Elian flinched back and looked up at the man standing firmly before him.

Perhaps it was because all scents had intensified due to the rain. Lorenz could perceive the scent of Elian’s shampoo more clearly. Like last time, it was a scent he didn’t dislike. A fragrance that made him want to smell it more. His sense of smell had become so sensitive that until a moment ago, even the scent of flowers had been irritating.

Beneath his lowered eyelids, Lorenz gazed intently down at Elian.

“I didn’t get to introduce myself properly last time.”

“……”

Eyes like a clear lake, reflecting everything down to the bottom, looked up at him, waiting for the next words. A complex set of emotions that he didn’t know how to handle shook Lorenz violently. He couldn’t suppress this violent impulse rising within his heart.

“But since our relationship is clear now, it would be best to introduce ourselves formally.”

He knew.

That his marriage would not deal any blow to Elian.

That it would not cause a single ripple in those clear eyes.

“Mr. Belloti, you’ve already heard that I went on a blind date, right?”

“…Yes.”

And yet, Lorenz couldn’t understand his own foolish rush to throw a stone just to confirm it with his own eyes. There was no way to stop it.

“I will be marrying Mr. Wesley.”

“……”

As if that explanation alone weren’t enough, Lorenz lightly placed his hand on the shoulder of Adriana, who was standing beside him. Then, he drove the point home once more.

“She is the person I am marrying.”

At the unfamiliar touch on her shoulder, Adriana looked back at Lorenz with a puzzled expression. Although she hadn’t known the eldest son of the Lockharts for very long, this was a very unexpected action.

However, even as he introduced her as his marriage partner, Lorenz’s gaze remained fixed solely on Elian.

“We’re hurrying as much as possible… we plan to hold the engagement ceremony first… this December.”

Like a patient with a severe cold after overworking his throat, he barely finished speaking in a strained, metallic voice.

Lorenz struggled to find any sign of emotional agitation, or anything similar, in the indifferent man standing before him. But it wasn’t easy. He tried to maintain a composed expression, but that wasn’t easy either.

“It is a bit rushed, isn’t it?”

Adriana shrugged and gave Elian an awkward smile.

“December… that’s really not long from now.”

Muttering this, Elian took in the couple who were about to be married, one by one. His gaze passed Adriana and landed on Lorenz. Then, it moved to Lorenz’s hand resting on Adriana’s shoulder.

“Congratulations… to you both.”

It was the customary greeting for such a situation.

However, upon hearing the greeting, Lorenz’s eyes distorted and his cheek twitched. As if he had heard an insulting condemnation rather than a congratulation. No, as if he had received a cruelly calm breakup notice from a long-time lover.

Congratulations? On my marriage?

Are you sincere?

He was the one who had thrown the stone to confirm the ending, even though he already knew it. There was no anomaly in the conclusion he witnessed. Elian seemed somewhat surprised, but that was only because the news was sudden, not because he felt any regret about the marriage itself.

Despite it being the expected result, Lorenz found it overwhelming to face.

Instead of Lorenz, who remained silent after the congratulations, Adriana stepped in.

“Thank you, Mr. Elian. It is a bit sudden, right?”

Elian only smiled awkwardly. Adriana nodded as if it were understandable.

“Just a few days ago, we had a meal together and I clearly introduced him as a friend, and now it’s marriage. It’s enough to be surprised.”

“I was a bit surprised, but… I understand.”

“You understand?”

Lorenz’s low voice suddenly cut in. He was asking back in a tone that suggested he couldn’t believe what Elian had said.

“Given the positions of you two, you wouldn’t be able to introduce each other honestly every time. Everyone… has their circumstances.”

What generous understanding.

Lorenz wanted to end this situation now. Even while certain that Elian Bellotti would show no reaction, he was determined to drive himself into a dead-end corner.

“I will, of course, send a formal invitation later, [unauthorized copy]but if you’re okay Read on Read BL Novelswith it, Mr. Belloti, please make sure to attend the wedding. Mr. Vincent as well.”

By inviting him to the wedding.

Everything was impulsive. He felt like a person throwing all their luggage out of the cabin from a speeding train. He hadn’t known he had such a self-destructive side.

“That’s right, Mr. Elian! The engagement ceremony will probably be a private affair for close acquaintances, but please make sure to come to the wedding.”

Adriana chimed in, but Elian couldn’t easily respond to the unexpected invitation.

“Would it be… okay for me to attend…?”

“Of course, certainly! The four of us have had a meal together. If your time permits, please do attend.”

Lorenz imagined it.

Elian Bellotti attending his wedding together with Vincent Belloti.

When he recalled that the two of them shared the same surname, he felt as if his intestines were twisting. Even though he knew it was because they were brothers and not a married couple, it made him feel sick. But even those emotions felt exhausting. He didn’t want to think about it. He simply wanted to end this situation he had created with his own hands as quickly as possible.

Lorenz pressed the button to open the elevator doors.

“Well then, Ms. Wesley. I’ll escort you to the parking lot. Shall we?”

“Ah, yes. Mr. Elian, see you next time.”

Elian gave an awkward smile to Adriana, who waved as she moved into the elevator. Through the gap of the sliding doors, Lorenz’s and Elian’s gazes crossed. Until the doors closed completely, Lorenz stood rigid without the slightest movement, staring at Elian.

And as soon as the doors closed, he staggered and leaned against the elevator wall.

“Mr. Lockhart, are you alright?”

“……”

“Is your headache still severe?”

Adriana asked worriedly, but the headache had actually subsided. At some point, it had melted away without a trace. Yet, his reflection in the door was wretched. Staring at his own green eyes, which seemed to blaze as if to burn everything down, Lorenz shook his head.

“No. It’s nothing.”

It was a voice that sounded as if it had sunk to the bottom of a tightly sealed, deep lake.

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