[BL] The Mafia Boss Wants My Body

Chapter 268: Chapter 268: The Man Charles Feared Most

Matteo was clearly teasing, implying that Mark and Charles were doing something far more interesting in the car.

Mark scoffed and quickly typed back.

Don’t even start. Now that your baby is back, do you even care about me anymore? I’ve been gone for over an hour, and you’re only texting me now? Fuck you.

A moment later, Matteo replied.

You’re just jealous. That’s why I’m taller than you.

Mark rolled his eyes at the familiar arrogant banter.

By how many inches, exactly? Teo, fuck off. I’m genuinely mad, not jealous... and if I couldn’t find you for an hour, I wouldn’t care either.

Sitting at the VIP table inside the reception, Matteo read the message and shook his head with a faint smile.

He quickly typed back.

Alright, I’m sorry... I have no excuse. But I honestly thought you were doing it with Charles or were just busy.

Mark’s expression grew serious as his thoughts drifted back to the unfamiliar man from the garden.

He decided to ask the question that had been bothering him.

I’ll be inside soon. But first, who the hell was that guy from earlier? What’s his connection to you? And more importantly... what business does he have with my man?

Matteo frowned slightly as he read the message.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. But we’ll talk when you get back.

Don’t play dumb. You know exactly who I’m talking about, Mark replied almost instantly. I’ll be back soon.

Slipping his phone back into his pocket, Mark looked down at Charles’s peaceful sleeping face. His thoughts remained fixed on the conversation waiting for him inside the reception hall as he quietly waited for Charles to wake up.

He sat there patiently, watching over the man he loved until Charles finally began to stir. Blinking sleepily against the soft light filtering through the windows, Charles slowly opened his eyes.

The moment Mark saw him awake, he immediately locked his phone and gave him his full attention.

"Baby, you’re awake."

Charles nodded weakly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Yeah..."

"How are you feeling now?" Mark asked, his voice gentle with concern.

Charles let out a small yawn before resting his hand against his stomach.

"I’m hungry..." he murmured, a faint pout forming on his lips.

Mark couldn’t help but chuckle.

"I figured you would be." He smiled warmly. "But how’s your head? Is it feeling any better?"

Charles nodded as he sat up properly, the hour of rest finally catching up with him.

"Yeah. I’m okay now. The nap really helped."

Mark smiled in relief before offering him a hand.

"Ready to head back inside?"

Charles nodded, taking Mark’s hand as they climbed out of the spacious back seat of the luxury car.

Before heading inside, Mark gently straightened Charles’s suit jacket and adjusted his tie. Smiling, Charles returned the gesture, smoothing the front of Mark’s jacket before brushing an invisible speck of dust from his shoulder.

Leaving the driver and their bodyguards by the car, the two of them made their way back toward the grand reception hall.

Just before they reached the large double doors leading inside, Charles paused and lightly touched Mark’s arm.

"Baby, I want to use the restroom first."

Mark looked down at him.

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, baby. It’s okay," Charles replied with a reassuring smile. "I’ll be back in a few minutes."

"Alright," Mark murmured, giving him a gentle nod. "Don’t be too long."

"I won’t, babe."

With that, Charles turned and headed toward the nearby restroom corridor, while Mark pushed open the reception ballroom doors and stepped inside alone.

As Mark made his way through the crowded, elegantly decorated ballroom, he quickly spotted Matteo and Adrian seated at their VIP table.

He walked over and slid into the empty chair beside his brother, only to find Matteo and Adrian in the middle of a rather amusing argument.

Adrian was practically leaning across the table, trying his hardest to convince Matteo to get up and dance with him.

Looking completely out of his element, Matteo immediately turned to Mark, silently pleading for help.

But the moment Mark realized what Adrian was asking, he completely lost it.

He buried his face in his hands as a loud burst of laughter escaped him.

Frank, who had been sitting quietly beside them with his usual composed expression, glanced at Mark’s reaction and couldn’t hold back a small chuckle of his own.

Adrian let out an exaggerated huff, though a playful smile tugged at his lips as he looked around the table.

"Look at you two laughing at my baby," he complained dramatically. "Where’s Charles?"

"He went to use the restroom," Mark managed to choke out, still laughing so hard his shoulders shook.

Matteo glared playfully at Frank, who was trying to hide his smile behind his champagne glass, and then glared at his twin brother before finally turning his desperate gaze back to Adrian. "Babe, you’re making them laugh at me."

"It’s just a dance!" Adrian complained, tugging lightly at Matteo’s sleeve. "Come on, come and dance with me."

Matteo slowly turned to Mark, his eyes silently pleading for help.

Mark finally wiped a tear from his eye before leaning back in his chair.

"Don’t bother, Adrian. Matteo can’t dance to save his life." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Just look around. This place is full of high-society guests and the media. I’m pretty sure you don’t want them laughing at your man."

Adrian crossed his arms, completely unbothered. "It doesn’t matter. He’s not dancing for them, he’s dancing for me."

"No, babe, I really can’t," Matteo muttered, his ears turning slightly red.

The two of them began bickering back and forth in the most adorable, stubborn way, and Mark just sat back, thoroughly enjoying the show while the rest of the high-profile guests mingled freely, laughing, chatting, and enjoying the lavish reception.

But as the minutes passed, Mark’s smile slowly faded.

He glanced down at his luxury wristwatch, a slight frown forming between his brows.

Charles should’ve been back by now...

What’s taking him so long?

Meanwhile, inside the quiet restroom, Charles finished washing his hands. He dried them off and walked toward the exit, but just as he reached out to pull the door, it was violently pushed open from the outside. Someone stepped firmly into the space, blocking his path.

Charles was still adjusting the lapels of his suit jacket when a smooth, chillingly familiar voice echoed off the marble walls.

"Charles. Long time no see."

Charles’s head snapped up, all the air instantly leaving his lungs.

Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run.

He stumbled back a step, his heart slamming painfully against his ribs.

"Hi..." he choked out, immediately trying to slip past Owen and escape through the doorway.

But before he could get past him, Owen’s hand shot out with frightening speed and locked firmly around Charles’s waist, stopping him in his tracks.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

"Let go of me! Now!" Charles shouted, his voice echoing through the enclosed restroom as he struggled to pry Owen’s iron grip from around his waist.

Owen said nothing.

His grip only tightened as his cold, calculating eyes roamed over Charles’s frightened face.

"I’m warning you, Owen. Leave me alone!" Charles hissed, fear creeping into his voice. "My boyfriend is here. He’s right outside, and he’ll come looking for me any minute now!"

At the mention of the word boyfriend, Owen slowly loosened his grip before letting Charles go completely.

He took a single step back, a slow, mocking smile spreading across his face.

"Did I hear you correctly?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm. "Your boyfriend?"

Charles stood his ground, his body trembling, but he refused to back down.

"Yes. My boyfriend."

Owen let out a low, mocking laugh, the sound echoing through the restroom.

"Your boyfriend..." he repeated with amused disbelief. "Or the man you’re desperately throwing yourself at?"

Charles froze, the words striking him like a physical blow.

"What... what do you mean by that?"

Instead of answering, Owen took a slow step toward him.

Instinctively, Charles took a step back.

Owen took another.

Charles retreated again, his breath catching in his throat as Owen continued advancing with slow, deliberate steps.

Before he knew it, the small of his back collided with the cold marble wall.

He had nowhere left to go.

Owen closed the remaining distance between them, leaning in until only inches separated their faces. His expensive cologne filled the air, making it almost impossible for Charles to think clearly.

"You little slut," Owen whispered, his voice dripping with venom. "You’re really calling a straight man your boyfriend? The same man you deliberately seduced into falling for you?"

A cruel smile tugged at his lips.

"Don’t think I can’t see right through you. The moment you saw Matteo taking care of Adrian, you wanted the same thing for yourself. So you went after Mark instead. You knew exactly who he was, exactly how wealthy and powerful his family was, and you made sure he fell for you."

He tilted his head slightly. "Now you get to enjoy the same luxurious life as your best friend."

"That’s not true!"