[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 249: Chapter 249: The Moment Has Finally Come

He had no idea the man he was determined to avoid would be waiting for him tomorrow.

The night passed, the hours slipping by in a quiet, tense countdown. Finally, the day of the party arrived.

Central City buzzed with excitement. The news was everywhere. Maya Grayson, the eldest daughter of Governor A. Grayson, was getting married in two days, and the city’s elite were already eager to catch a glimpse of the celebrations.

The evening had been carefully planned. Guests were expected to begin arriving at 7:00 p.m. for cocktails before the main celebration officially began at 9:00 p.m.

Back at Adrian’s house, he sat on the edge of his bed, his complexion still a little too pale against the sharp lines of his face.

Leah walked into the bedroom, a worried expression on her face, a freshly pressed black suit draped over her arm.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly, hanging the suit over the back of the vanity chair. "If you’re still feeling dizzy or weak, we can skip the cocktail hour. We can go for the main celebration."

"No, I told you, I’m fine," Adrian insisted, forcing a faint but determined smile. He refused to let his lingering illness ruin a single moment of his sister’s wedding celebrations.

He glanced at the wall clock, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Besides, I still have plenty of time to rest. It’s only 8:30 in the morning."

He gestured toward the door.

"Go downstairs first, Leah. I’ll freshen up and join you for breakfast in a little while."

Leah hesitated, her eyes scanning him for any sign of faltering, before nodding.

"Alright. But don’t take too long, Adrian."

"I won’t," he promised.

Once the door clicked shut, leaving him alone in the room, Adrian’s forced composure slipped. He let out a shaky breath, his hand instinctively clutching his stomach as a wave of lingering nausea washed over him.

He slowly rose to his feet, steadying himself against the edge of the bed for a moment before forcing his legs to move.

He made his way toward the en-suite bathroom, each step slow and deliberate. Reaching the marble vanity, he splashed cold water over his face and neck, hoping to shock his body into alertness.

He peeled off his sweat-dampened pajamas before turning on the shower, setting the water to a lukewarm temperature. Leaning his forehead against the cool tiles, he closed his eyes as the water cascaded over his shoulders.

He moved with slow, aching motions, washing away the remnants of the fevered night.

When he finished showering, Adrian dried himself with a towel before stepping back into the bedroom. After changing into a comfortable set of lounge clothes, he spent a few extra minutes carefully grooming himself, making sure his hair was perfectly styled and his complexion looked as healthy as possible.

Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself before making his way toward the bedroom door. He descended the grand staircase at a slow, steady pace, keeping one hand firmly on the banister until he reached the bottom, where the aroma of breakfast and the quiet activity of the household welcomed him.

The hours slipped by quickly, bringing the evening closer with every passing moment.

By late afternoon, Maya reached out to Adrian to check on his condition, her voice crackling over the line with frantic, pre-wedding anxiety. But Adrian immediately shut down her fussing.

"Maya, stop worrying about me. Focus on your party today."

"I just want you to come early so I can—"

"Maya, I can take care of myself, okay?" Adrian interrupted gently, cutting her off before she could say anything else.

Maya let out a defeated sigh on the other end. "Alright, alright. Just make sure you arrive early, okay?"

"I will," Adrian promised before ending the call.

Leah, who had been watching him pace around the living room with an uneven gait, shook her head.

"Why can’t you just rest and get proper treatment at the hospital? You could still skip the—"

"Stop, Leah. I’m fine," Adrian said, his patience beginning to wear thin as another wave of dizziness washed over him. "Besides, I’m not planning to stay long tonight. I want to be there for a few hours, show my face for Maya, and then head straight back home."

Leah crossed her arms, looking at him with clear disapproval. "You just never listen."

Adrian looked away, ignoring the warning signs his body was desperately trying to send him.

As twilight faded into a crisp evening, friends and family began getting ready for the party.

In their bedroom, Mark and Charles finished getting ready, both dressed in sleek, impeccably tailored suits that reflected their high-society status.

Meanwhile, Frank was already prepared at his own residence. He paced around his living room while waiting for the text from Charles confirming they were leaving. As the minutes ticked by, he finally dialed Adrian’s number to make sure he was on schedule.

Adrian answered on the third ring, his voice calm and controlled.

"Yeah, Frank. I’m on my way."

It was a lie.

In reality, Adrian was still lying flat on his bed. The fever had flared up again, leaving him barely strong enough to sit up, let alone get dressed for the evening.

Meanwhile, at the sprawling Matteo estate, a completely different energy filled the air. Matteo stood before the full-length mirror, adjusting the lapels of the long black overcoat layered over his impeccably tailored three-piece suit. His hair was meticulously styled, and his dark eyes held a calm yet terrifyingly focused intensity.

He looked impeccably composed.

As the time for the party arrived, everyone began making their way to the venue.

Frank was among the first to arrive at the grand hotel ballroom.

The venue was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers hung like frozen waterfalls from the vaulted ceiling, casting a warm golden glow across the elegant hall. The air carried the fragrance of fresh floral arrangements, expensive colognes, and champagne. Soft music drifted through the ballroom as waiters in crisp white gloves moved gracefully among the guests with trays of sparkling drinks.

Friends, family, business associates, and distinguished guests had already begun filling the room, chatting and laughing as they waited for the celebration to begin.

A few minutes later, Mark and Charles stepped into the room, their presence immediately drawing nods of recognition from the surrounding guests. Frank quickly joined them, his eyes drifting toward the grand entrance. Both he and Charles had tried calling Adrian several times over the past twenty minutes, but every call had gone straight to voicemail.

At exactly 8:12 p.m., the heavy mahogany doors swung open.

Matteo stepped into the ballroom, flanked by only two of his personal bodyguards. His commanding presence instantly drew the attention of the room, causing dozens of heads to turn in curiosity and quiet intimidation. But Matteo paid no attention to the whispers. The first thing his dark eyes did was scan the crowd, searching for one particular face.

Adrian wasn’t there.

Matteo kept his expression entirely unreadable as he walked directly toward the high table where Mark and Charles were standing. The moment Maya spotted him, she gracefully excused herself from her conversation with a friend and walked over to greet him.

"Matteo, thank you so much for coming," Maya said warmly.

She then smiled at Mark, Charles, and Frank, greeting each of them before returning her attention to Matteo.

Matteo offered a polite, dignified bow of his head. "Congratulations, Maya."

The rest of the group also congratulated Maya, while the surrounding guests whispered among themselves, wondering how the daughter of a prominent politician was on such familiar terms with a man like Matteo.

As soft music drifted through the ballroom, Matteo’s eyes subtly wandered back to the entrance. Mark leaned in, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips.

"You’re looking for him, aren’t you?"

Matteo didn’t miss a beat. His voice remained perfectly calm.

"No. I was just admiring the ballroom. It’s beautiful."

Mark let out a dry chuckle. "Beautiful. Right."

Matteo offered no reply, his gaze settling once again on the entrance.

Maya, too, found herself glancing toward the doors every few seconds. Worry tightened in her chest as she discreetly dialed Adrian’s number beneath the table, only to be met with the same automated voicemail.

Before she could worry herself any further, her husband gently touched her arm, drawing her attention away.

"Sweetheart, come. I’d like you to meet some of my friends from the ministry."

Maya followed him reluctantly, her thoughts remaining fixed on her brother’s absence.

As the evening wore on, Iris arrived at the party. She gracefully made her way through the crowd to congratulate Maya, but as she looked around the ballroom, her eyes accidentally met Matteo’s distant, unreadable gaze. A shiver ran down her spine, and she quickly looked away.

Finally, at exactly 9:12 p.m., the grand doors parted once more.

The conversations around the ballroom gradually faded as heads turned toward the entrance.

Adrian had finally arrived.