[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 234: Chapter 234: When “I’m Sorry” Wasn’t Enough

He refused to stand there feeling like a secret that needed to be hidden.

Without looking at Adrian, Matteo turned on his heel and walked out of the restaurant alone.

He didn’t glance back once, leaving Adrian standing there alone with Nora.

Adrian watched the heavy glass doors swing shut behind Matteo’s broad shoulders, a sickening wave of regret hitting him almost instantly.

His mind raced as he searched for an excuse to get away and run after his partner.

But before he could say a word, Nora grabbed his arm.

"Come on," she said excitedly. "Let’s go back inside and sit down. I’m calling Mom right now to tell her you’re here."

She then turned to the woman beside her, who had been watching the entire exchange with open curiosity.

"Fiona, this is Adrian," Nora said with a smile. "He’s my late sister Elena’s husband."

The woman smiled politely.

"Oh, hello. Nice to meet you. I’m Fiona."

"Nice to meet you too," Adrian replied casually.

His attention was elsewhere, however. His eyes kept flicking toward the entrance, his anxiety growing with every passing second.

Completely oblivious to his distress, Nora gently steered him back toward the dining area.

"After we leave here, we’re going straight to the house," she said. "It’s such good timing that Grandma is staying with us right now. She’s heading back home on Sunday, and I know she’ll be absolutely thrilled to see you."

A hostess led them to a new table, and they took their seats.

Desperate for a moment to check his phone, Adrian picked up a menu and gestured toward the others.

"Please, order whatever you want. It’s my treat."

"Oh, Adrian, you’re too sweet," Nora gushed, resting her chin on her hands. "I’ve really missed having you around."

She immediately launched into a stream of old family memories, talking endlessly about the past.

Every time Adrian found a chance to politely excuse himself, Nora would dive straight into another story, making it impossible for him to get away.

Meanwhile, Matteo sat quietly in the back seat of the SUV, waiting.

His gaze remained fixed on the restaurant entrance, his expression unreadable.

He forced himself to stay calm, knowing exactly how dangerous his temper could become if he let it take over.

Inside the restaurant, Adrian’s anxiety grew with every passing minute.

Finally, realizing he couldn’t keep Matteo waiting any longer, he cut in.

"Nora, listen, I think I really need to go first. I just got into the city, and I haven’t even settled into my hotel yet. I should take care of that, and then I’ll come visit the house la..."

Nora didn’t let him finish, waving a dismissive hand.

"Oh, that’s perfect! We’ll finish up here, come with you to the hotel, and help you get settled. That way you won’t have to do it all by yourself."

Adrian’s heart lurched.

The thought of Nora arriving at his hotel and running into Matteo sent a fresh wave of panic crashing over him.

"No, it’s fine!" he blurted out a little too quickly. "I can manage on my own, really. I’ll drop off my things and come over to the house right afterward."

"I insist, Adrian," Nora said firmly, already pulling her phone from her purse. "We’re the only family you have in this city. It’s our job to take care of you."

She unlocked her phone.

"In fact, I’m calling Mom right now to let her know you’re on your way."

"Nora, wait, don’t—"

After a couple of rings, a woman’s voice answered.

"Hello, Nora?"

"Hi, Mom!" Nora said brightly, flashing Adrian a triumphant smile. "Guess who I just ran into at the restaurant? I’m sitting here with Adrian."

On the other end of the line, Elena’s mother fell silent for a brief moment before speaking, genuine surprise evident in her voice.

"Oh? Adrian’s in town?"

"Yes! And we’re coming home together in a little while," Nora said. Then, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper, she added, "Don’t tell Grandma yet. I want to surprise her when we walk through the door."

"Alright, darling. I’ll keep it a secret. We’ll see you both soon," her mother replied before ending the call.

Nora slipped her phone back into her purse, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "All settled. Let’s get the check so we can get you packed up, Adrian."

Adrian sat frozen in his chair. His stomach twisted into a tight knot as he stared down at his trembling hands.

He had just lost every chance to escape.

All he could think about now was Matteo... and how furious he was going to be.

As Nora and Fiona continued chatting, completely oblivious to his distress, Adrian felt trapped.

Desperate, he quietly slipped his phone out beneath the edge of the table.

His thumbs hovered over the screen as he tried several times to type out a message.

He wanted to tell Matteo to leave first and that he would meet him at the hotel later.

But every time he finished typing, he deleted it. He simply couldn’t bring himself to press send. He knew it was wrong.

He knew Matteo would feel hurt... and deeply disappointed after everything they had promised each other the night before.

But with everything happening so quickly, Adrian felt like he had no choice. Clenching his jaw, he quickly typed out a brief message.

Babe, I’m so sorry. Please don’t wait for me. Go ahead to the hotel first. I’ll explain everything when I get there. I promise I’ll come to you as soon as I can.

With his heart pounding, he pressed send.

Outside, idling in the heavily guarded SUV, Matteo felt his phone vibrate.

He pulled it from his pocket, his expression hardening the moment Adrian’s name flashed across the screen.

He read the message, his jaw clenching as a surge of possessive anger rose inside him.

After a long breath, he forced himself to calm down before replying.

Babe, don’t worry about me. I’ll wait for you right here. No matter how long it takes, I’m not leaving without you.

Inside the restaurant, Adrian’s phone buzzed with the response. Seeing Matteo’s stubborn devotion only made the guilt tear at him even more.

He couldn’t let Matteo sit outside in the car for hours.

Taking a shaky breath, Adrian quickly typed out another message, giving Matteo a full explanation, detailing exactly who Nora was, how she had refused to let him leave, and how he was now forced to go straight to Elena’s family home before coming to the hotel later.

Back in the SUV, Matteo watched the typing bubbles disappear, replaced by a long block of text. He opened it, reading the explanation line by line.

Before he could even reach the end, a raw, burning sting hit his eyes, and a tear almost spilled over. He quickly blinked it back, fiercely conscious of his bodyguard sitting in the front seat.

The feared mafia boss suddenly felt completely hollow. A bitter thought echoed through his mind.

I’m just a fool in love.

A complete fool who’ll swallow his own pride just to keep him.

Inside the restaurant, Adrian stared anxiously at his screen. The message status instantly changed to ’Read,’ but minutes ticked by, and no reply came.

Outside, Matteo locked his phone and tossed it onto the leather seat beside him.

He tapped his earpiece, his voice low and dangerously calm.

"Drive to the hotel. Leave a discreet team behind to follow Adrian’s vehicle from a distance. Protect him, but stay out of sight."

"Understood, Boss."

The convoy pulled away from the curb, leaving the restaurant behind without Matteo sending Adrian a single reply.

Adrian kept checking his screen, his anxiety skyrocketing as the silence stretched.

Unable to take the agonizing quiet, he typed out a panicked follow-up: Babe, are you there? Please don’t ignore me.

Matteo’s screen lit up on the seat beside him.

He glanced down and read the message, but deliberately left it unanswered, allowing the screen to go dark once more.

That cold silence made reality come crashing down on Adrian. He knew he had pushed Matteo too far this time.

His chest tightened. Swallowing hard, he typed one final message. Babe, please say something. I’m sorry.

Adrian’s hands began to tremble.

The color drained from his face, and he struggled to keep his breathing steady.

Nora paused mid-conversation, finally noticing how rigid he had become. "Adrian?" she asked, her brows knitting together. "Are you okay?"

Adrian forced a tight smile and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

"It’s nothing," he said quietly. "I’m fine."

Realizing he couldn’t risk letting Nora anywhere near the hotel while Matteo was in such a volatile state, Adrian quickly changed his plan.

Just as the waiter returned with the bill, Adrian rose to his feet.

"Actually, Nora, let’s go straight to your mother’s house first. I can always check into the hotel afterward."

Nora’s eyes lit up. "Oh, even better! Let’s go."

With a heavy heart and a mind weighed down by dread, Adrian walked out of the restaurant beside Nora and Fiona.

He climbed into their car...